PS 3525 
.Y6 C5 
1922 
Copy 1 



The T)rama league Series 





CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 

A PLAY IN THREE ACTS 

TRACY D. MYGATT 

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BV 

CLARA FITCH 





NEW \liir YORK 
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 





The Drama League Series 

CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 



TRACY D. MYGATT 



CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 

A PLAY IN THREE ACTS 






TRACY DrMYGATT 

Author of Good Friday: A Passion Play of Now/* 
''Bird's Nest,'' ''Grandmother Rocker/' 
"The Noose," etc. 



WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY 

CLARA FITCH 



NEW ^mSP YORK 
GEORGE H. DO RAN COMPANY 






COPYRIGHT, 1922, 
BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 



©Ci,A6812l4 

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

RUG -3 72 



TO MY MOTHER 

IN GRATEFUL LOVE FOR HER DEAR FAITH 

IN THIS AND ALL MY WORK, 

THIS PLAY IS DEDICATED. 



INTRODUCTION 

By CLARA FITCH 

CHAIRMAN OF THE RELIGIOUS DRAMA COMMITTEE 
OF THE DRAMA LEAGUE OF AMERICA 

Religious Drama is quickening the spiritual life of communi- 
ties to-day as it did in the early days of the Church. The revival 
of this form of drama at the close of the World War was sug- 
gested by the Drama League of America as a means of carrying 
over into everyday life the awakened conscience of the people. 
A Religious Drama Committee was called by the League to dis- 
cuss the subject in the broadest use of the term, the aim being, 
to secure plays of Biblical and ethical value, plays capable of 
stimulating high ideals. As the supply of such material was 
inadequate the League held a religious drama prize competition 
to secure worth while plays, and to arouse interest in the subject. 
The result was satisfactory and valuable material was gained. 
Selected plays from this competition are to appear in a Drama 
League Series, ^'Children of Israel," the title of this volume, being 
one of the series. 

Churches eagerly adopted the League's idea of utilizing drama 
in church work, realizing that the Church alone does not offer the 
balanced recreation that people crave, and that the art of the 
drama appealing to the triple nature of man is of inestimable 
value in supplying this need. The movement has grown so rap- 
idly that it will be necessary to correlate the work of the Drama 
League, various churches and organizations working in the field 
of religious drama, that effort may not be duplicated and that 
the high ideals for which the League stands may be maintained. 

If religion is to be taught through dramatics, an able leader 
is essential, one who is not only fitted mentally but spiritually. 
Such a leader must know that simplicity in stage set and cos- 



viii INTRODUCTION 

turning is desirable, that the actors should lose themselves in 
speaking the lines of the play, and the audience cease for a 
time to be conscious of present-day reality. 

"Children of Israel" is a Biblical Drama in Three Acts. The 
principal characters of the play are Moses; Miriam, his sister; 
Aaron, their brother; Zipporah, Moses' wife; Dathan, a Hebrew 
slave; Pharaoh, King of Egypt; and Thermuthis, his daughter. 
The ancient theme of the bondage of the children of Israel in 
Egypt is skillfully handled and makes a strong appeal; the style 
is vigorous, and the delineation of character excellent. Occa- 
sional humorous passages contrast forcibly with the tragedy of 
Thermuthis and the prophetic vision and fire of Miriam. The 
dramatic situation offered by the plague of thick darkness is 
strongly developed. Historically accurate is the Passover scene 
and the religious symbols are used reverently. 

The play is bound together by the forward gaze of Moses and 
Miriam, which is the keynote of their power over the people. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR STAGING ** CHILDREN 
OF ISRAEL" FOR AMATEUR PRODUCTION 

By ELIZABETH B. GRIMBALL 



ON CHURCH PAGEANTRY AND DRAMA OF THE EPISCOPAL 
CHURCH OF AMERICA 

While Miss Mygatt's "Children of Israel" would show to best 
advantage in presentation by a cast of good professional actors 
with settings arranged by fine professional designers and technical 
directors, the drama also lends itself to production with a non- 
professional cast of well-trained amateurs under a good director 
in the amateur field who is not only a competent coach but who 
understands the technical problems of staging, costuming and 
lighting. 

For production in the field of Community Drama, where 
facilities for staging are often inadequate, the play can also be 
used if certain suggestions are followed. 

The text in the professional copy calls for extremely deli- 
cate interpretation dramatically and scenic effects of great beauty 
but difficult to carry out under the usual conditions found in the 
average community. 

These difficulties may be overcome if some of the scenes be 
adapted or omitted where the omission does not break the dra- 
matic sequence; and the staging simplified as much as possible 
into a mere background, leaving the color, lighting and costum- 
ing to give historic and symbolic verity to the story. 

There are certain conditions upon which the dramatic move- 
ment depends and these conditions must be fulfilled. For ex- 
ample the development of the mystery element in the play de- 
pends on the lessening of light and the glow of the Pillar of Fire; 



X SUGGESTIONS FOR STAGING 

therefore it is necessary to produce the play under artificial light, 
and this precludes any day performances out of doors. 

The accuracy of the place and the period in a simple produc- 
tion must be conveyed visually entirely by the costumes and 
properties. Therefore the director of a presentation of "Chil- 
dren of Israel" for the Church or for the Community by non- 
professionals has three definite problems on the technical side 
which he must reduce to the simplest representations for his 
purpose. 

The first is costuming. This difficult work can be made a 
most interesting feature if the art forces of a community are 
called to his aid and a workshop established where the costumes 
may be designed and made. If a knowledge of how to use 
brilliant dyes is the possession of the director or one of his 
helpers, inexpensive materials can be made to take on the glory of 
oriental splendor — and if a knowledge of applied decoration, 
stenciling, and block printing batik is also the gift of some helper, 
the costume problem is solved. 

The second problem is setting in its simplest form, with the 
properties and furnishing necessary to the dramatic action. 

The play may be played without drapes or against a back- 
ground of drapes — two or three, set at sufficient distance from 
each other to allow the setting up within the inner space of 
certain set properties such as Pharaoh's throne. When the outer 
curtain, which should be in two pieces, is drawn apart, the inner 
setting is shown. When drapes are not used properties may be 
placed by attendants in costume of slaves. For a performance 
out of doors large screens may be used, which could be placed 
and taken away by attendants in costume. 

The third technical problem is the lighting. The effects re- 
quired by the play may be obtained with the use of simple 
flood lights on a dimmer and, if necessary, a strip of hooded 
footlights. These lights may be rented or they may be made 
by any electrician according to simple directions. 



PERSONS OF THE PLAY 

Moses 

Miriam, his sister 

Aaron, their brother 

ZiPPORAH, Moses' wije 

Gershom 1 ,^ , - ... 
T. > Moses chudren 

Eleasar J 

Dathan, a Hebrew slave 

Pharaoh, King of Egypt 

Thermuthis, his daughter 

ZiTYNE, maid to Thermuthis 

Epiphras, an Egyptian messenger 

Batinas, a taskmaster 

NicoRDioN, his brother 

Chief Magician 

1ST Musician 

1ST Torchbearer 

1ST Guard 

2ND Guard 

A dancing-girl; ladies and gentlemen of the court; soothsayers; 
magicians; guards; a torchbearer; Hebrew slaves; servants; 
Egyptian task-masters. 



time: Before the Exodus 
place: The City of Rameses 

act i: a Street in Rameses 

act II : Pharaoh's Throne-Chamber 

act hi: The Home of Moses 

Between Acts I and II some twelve years pass; between Acts II 
and III some four days. 



CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 



CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 



ACT I 

Scene: A Street in Rameses. 
Time: Before the Exodus. 

The scene is a street in Rameses somewhere between the brick- 
fields and the new pleasure- gar den of Pharaoh. In the 
distance gleams the Nile, hot in the sunshine; beyond it 
loom the dim, piled forms of Sphinx and Pyramids. As the 
curtain rises, a line of Hebrew slaves, almost naked, their 
seamed bodies bent under heavy tales of brick, pass slowly 
across stage, left. They are closely watched and goaded 
forward by Egyptian Taskmasters who meet their cries of 
suffering with the lash. Now and then, as in his torment, 
a slave attempts to raise piteous hands in prayer, the lash 
descends with so quick a ferocity that he stumbles forward 
again, submissive and still. A moment after the line has 
passed beyond the mound of sand which is partially visible 
to left rear, Dathan, the slave who has been at the last of 
the procession, reels back again, almost fainting, and falls 
upon the stage, centre. Instantly Batinas, the Egyptian 
Taskmaster, who has made an insolent rearguard of the 
whole, is upon him, savoring his delight in now at last being 
afforded a pretext for fresh cruelties. 

Batinas. [Brandishing his lash.] Ha-ha, my fine fellow! So 
you thought you'd run away! 

Dathan. [Crouching beneath the lash.] No, no, master! 
Thou art wrong! I 

Batinas. [Prodding him with his boot.] Tush! You're a 
great one, aren't you, to think of running away? 

Dathan. [Piteously.] But, master, I swear I 

15 



Ig CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act i 

Batinas [Jeeringly, cracking the whip.] Thought you'd take a 
bit of a stroll, didn't you? See the sights of the city? 

Dathan. [As before.] Master, master, by the Holy God, thou 

art wrong! I fainted from the heat and ^ 

Batinas. [With a loud guffaw.] He's a great one, isn t He, 
your "Holy God"! To let you stick— how many hundred moons 
is it?— building treasure-cities for your enemies, with gentlemeii 
like me over you! "Holy God" indeed! [With another kick.] 
Now if you prayed to the Nile [swijtly prostrating himself]— 
there's a god can do something for you! 

[He is about to continue when Zityne, the extraordinarily 

pretty maid of the Princess Thermuthis, enters, right. 

At sight of her, he looks up, pleased that she should have 

caught him in so heroic an employment. 

Batinas. Good afternoon, Miss Zityne! Can I do anythmg 

^Zityne. [With light disdain.] Oh, pray don't trouble about 
me^ You seem to have your hands pretty full! 

Batinas. [Carelessly.] My hands can always hold more [with 
a bold glance]— W^Q my heart! 

Zityne. [Mockingly.] And do you have to make as much ef- 
fort to hold what you put in your heart as your hands are makmg 
now with that slave? 

Batinas [With a savage stroke that reduces Dathan to im- 
mobility.] Enort? Nay! She who comes to the heart of Batmas 
is glad to rest there— even as this Jew now, beneath his lash! 

Zityne. [Raising her eyebrows.] A pleasure to be destroyed 
by Batinas? Oh, I don't know about that! [Tossing her head.] 
I'm delighted fm not in your heart! I'd much rather be in the 
service of the Princess! [Turning to Dathan.] What is thy 

name? 

Dathan. [With a groan.] Dathan ! 

Zityne. Poor slave, I could almost pity thee— if thou wert 

not a slave! . . 

Dathan. There is no pity in Egypt, nor compassion m the 

house of bondage! 

Batinas. [Tickling his face with the lash.] Where else would 
you be? You Jews! You're all the same! 

Zityne. [Suddenly.] Not Prince Moses! 



ACT ij CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 17 

Batinas. Oh, well, he's an Egyptian! 

Dathan. [Starting.] Nay ! 

ZiTYNE. No, he isn't an Egyptian! He never worships 
with us! 

Batinas. [Familiarly.] With you? Why should he? 

ZiTYNE. [With dignity.] I referred to the Princess Thermuthis 
and Pharaoh her father! Prince Moses never goes with them to 
the Temple of Osiris! 

Batinas. Oh, well, he's an Egyptian all the same! 

Dathan. [Starting up.] Nay, thou liest! He 

Batinas. [Lashing him.] Oh, I do! Well, let us see! Canst 
thou tell me of one time — even one, in all the years of thy slavery 
that Prince Moses ever troubled himself to 

ZiTYNE. [Interrupting softly.] I think it bothers him some- 
times! The other day, when he was with the Princess and me in 
the pleasure-garden they are building [she stops, abruptly, tap- 
ping her fingers to her lips with a pretty gesture] — oh, dear, I'm 
doing it again, after all my promises ! 

Batinas. Doing what? 

ZiTYNE. [With mock solemnity.] Gossiping! And I promised 
her I wouldn't! And she's so sweet! I just love her! [With 
a hasty glance up the street.] Good-by! The road's clear for 
walking! That's what I came to find out! 

Batinas. [Ingratiatingly.] Stay ! 

ZiTYNE. No! I don't like you! You're awfully stilted! And 

conceited ! [She runs off, right, a little way; then, as she 

sees the lash again descending, calls back to Dathan.] If you 
were a man, Dathan, you know what you'd do, don't you? 

[Before either can express himself, she is gone. For a mo- 
ment there is silence. Then, eying his victim, Batinas 
begins again. 

Batinas. But you're not a man, are you? That's what nobody 
knows as well as your master! Why, I know it better than 
Pharaoh himself, for Pharaoh only gives the orders — / execute 
them! / see how you grovel under me, how you cringe every 
time I wave this above you [brandishing the lash] — you, with 
your talk of "Jehovah"! [He continues cuttingly, not noticing 
Moses, who, in the rich habit of an Egyptian prince, has just 
come in softly, right, and who stands unobserved, at rear.] I 



18 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act i 

tell you if you prayed to the Nile — there's a god that comes 
across, but yours — pah! — a god of slaves! 

Dathan. [Timidly, raising horror-stricken eyes.] I beseech 
thee, master, do not blaspheme! Strike me if thou wilt, but 
blaspheme not! [In a low voice.] He is my God, a very 
present help in trouble! 

Batinas. [Cracking his lash.] As to that, we shall see ! 

[With a cutting stroke.] And in future, hold your tongue about 
"your God"! Do you understand? You belong to Pharaoh! 
You have nothing! Not a God — though indeed Pharaoh 
wouldn't take yours if you made him a present of Him! Not a 
wife, though there, I must say, [slowly, licking his lips] you have 
better taste, and 

Dathan. [Struggling to his feet and gazing at Bat, wild- 
eyed.] What meanest thou — not a wife? [As Bat only stares, 

sneeringly, at him, he repeats again, hoarsely.] Not a wife ? 

[Wildly, scanning the other's face.] No, no! It cannot be 
true! Shelomith would not! She would not! [Frantically, he 
flings himself on the ground.] Tempt me not! I do not be- 
lieve thee! Thou liest, to make me — to make me 

Batinas. [With swift anger.] To make you what, you fool? 
[With a contemptuous kick.] Revenge yourself? No, no, 
you're too poor a thing for vengeance! [Tickling his face with 
the lash.] You know I'm not lying! You're just saying that 
because it lets you out! You'd be afraid to touch me! Zityne 
knew! You're all cowards! "Chosen people," indeed! [Lash- 
ing him.] Get up! I'm tired of this game! [With another 
stroke, as he rises, moaning.] I've given you all the time I can 
spare, and all the time Pharaoh can spare, from his pleasure- 
garden! 

Dathan. [Brokenly, raising piteous hands to heaven.] Oh, 
Thou — Thou — shall not my cry go up to Thee? 

Batinas. [Falling on him savagely.] Stop that, I tell you! And 
back to your work! You see — your God is dead! 

Moses. [Springing forward at white heat.] Now may God for- 
give thee, but I shall not forgive thee! 

Batinas. [Dropping his lash and making deep obeisance.] Par- 
don, my lord! I knew not 

Moses. [Cuttingly.] No, thou didst not know! Thou 



ACT i] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 19 

thoughtedst no man saw thee save this poor slave, whose wife thou 
hast defiled, whose God thou hast blasphemed! 

Batinas. [In a low voice.] Pardon, Prince Moses, it shall not 
occur again! 

Moses. [Slowly.] No, thou art right there! 
Dathan. [Moaning on the ground.] My wife— Shelomith— 
defiled by an Egyptian! 

Batinas. [To Moses, with a contemptuous glance at the slave.] 
Truly, Prince Moses, I greatly regret, but these Jews make such 
a fuss about everything! A slave like that to hold things sa- 
cred ! His wife! His God! [Uneasily, after a moment's 

pause, in which Moses makes no response.] Pardon, my lord, 
I'll get him back to his work now, for your pleasure-garden! 

MosES. [Starting violently.] ilf^; pleasure-garden ! Mine ? 

Batinas. [With assumed lightness.] Why, surely yours, my 
lord! Yours or Pharaoh's! It will some day be the same thing, 
will it not? 

MosES. [As if pondering it, half to himself.] Mine— or 
Pharaoh's — the same thing! 

Batinas. [Officiously.] Why, yes. Prince Moses, everybody is 
talking about how you will succeed, the Princess Thermuthis 
having no child of her own! 

Moses. [Slowly.] 'Tis well, perchance, that they should talk! 
Men that talk much think little! [Regarding him curiously.] 
Thou talkest much, my Taskmaster of Egypt! Perchance thou 
thinkest I have forgotten! 

Batinas. [With attempted nonchalance.] Oh, no, indeed, my 
lord! Your memory is the talk of the whole University! 

Moses. [With a sudden sigh.] Yea, I remember much ! 

Batinas. [After a quick glance, averting his eyes.] Pardon, my 
lord, I fear my absence will inconvenience my colleagues! With 
your leave, I will take the slave back! 

Moses. [Arresting him.] Concern not thyself! I will take 
him back! 

Batinas. [Starting.] Pardon, Prince Moses, but I could not 
think of it! It is my duty! Pharaoh himself wills it! 

Moses. A moment ago thou saidst Pharaoh and I were the 
same! 

Batinas. [Uneasily.] Yea, my lord ? 



20 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act i 

Moses. Well, then, I tell thee, / will attend to his return! 

Batinas. [His perplexity turning to fear.] But what shall I do, 
then? 

Moses. [With intense bitterness.] Art thou so soon weary of 
another's wife that her face is no longer beautiful in thine eyes? 

Batinas. [Confused and trembling.] My lord, I 

Moses. Or of the profanation of another's God that further 
blasphemy affordeth thee no pleasure? 

Batinas. My lord, pardon! What do you wish me to do? 

Moses. [Drawing his sward.] Make thy peace ! 

Batinas. [Falling to his knees.] Mercy, Prince Moses! 
Mercy ! 

Moses. [Sternly.] Pray to thy gods, not me! 

Batinas. [Cringingly.] I believe them not! [Then, wildly, as 
if repenting his own blasphemy.] Prince Moses — wait! My 
house is not prepared for me! My house among the Dead! 
Mercy! Mercy! Ah, most holy Nile, most holy Osiris, thou 
who sailest upon the waves at sunset — mercy! 

Dathan. [Rising slowly as he sees the upraised sword.] Lo — 
His promise! 

MosES. [Plunging the blade in Batinas' heart.] I am more 
merciful to thee than thou to Pharaoh's slaves! [Then, to 
Dathan, as the body drops back.] Now help me! Hasten! 

Dathan. [Looking stupidly from Moses to the body.] 
Thou hast killed him! 

Moses. By the hand of God, I think! [Then, with renewed 
urgency.] Quick! Help me to bury him yonder in the sand! 

Dathan. I fear! [He creeps closer to the body, and timidly 
touches the lash with his foot.] His lash might follow me! 

Moses. [Raising his head and by his example persuading 

Dathan to assist him.] Do not fear! Yonder ! [With a 

gesture to the sand, left.] Before any come ! 

Dathan. [Curiously, dropping the body.] Who made thee a 
prince and a judge over us? 

Moses. [Repressing a start, quickly.] Hush! It is no time 
for talk! Come ! 

Dathan. [Slowly, preparing to obey.] I know not what will 
come of this day's deeds! Thou art a prince, but for me, there 
is naught but trouble! 



ACT i] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 21 

Moses. [As if daring him to deny it.] I am thy brother ! 

Dathan. [Dubiously, raising the body.] Thou art from the 
Palace of Pharaoh the great King! 

[They disappear, left, and for a moment the stage is empty. 
Then, dressed as an important messenger, Epiphras, the 
Egyptian, enters hurriedly from the right. He casts his 
eyes about, as if in search of some one. 

Epiphras. [Tentatively.] Prince Moses ? [Receiving no 

answer, and perceiving the bricks on the ground, he stands a 
moment, as in doubt, kicking them vaguely; then, a little louder.] 
Prince Moses! [At the sound of steps, rapidly approaching 
from the left, he stands at attention as Moses enters, prostrating 
himself deeply before him.] They told me thou hadst gone this 
way! A message from the Palace! 

Moses. [Frowning a little.] Say on! 

Epiphras. Pardon, Prince Moses, I was commanded to find 
thee with all speed! 

Moses. Well, I am here! 

Epiphras. [Importantly.] The enemies of my lord the King, 
those same Ethiopians of whom so much hath of late been 
spoken, are nearing the frontiers of Pharaoh, and he sends thee 
word to beseech of thee thine aid in their repulse! Here, my 
lord [extending to Moses a signet-ring] — is the token! 

Moses. [Coldly, taking the ring.] Hath not Pharaoh many 
another to serve him? 

Epiphras. [Surprised.] My lord ? 

Moses. Hath not Pharaoh many generals? The Ethiopians 
are a brave people! Thinketh he not I am over-young to send 
against them? 

Epiphras. Nay, my lord, he desireth thee, and thee only! 
The Court hath heard much of thy valor before now, and here 
perchance Pharaoh deemeth thou wilt fight better than those 
others ! 

Moses. [Abruptly.] Why? 

Epiphras. Why, seeing that the battle is, as it were, for thine 
own crown! 

Moses. [Frowning.] I understand thee not! 

Epiphras. [Controlling his annoyance.] Pardon, Prince Moses, 
I thought myself very clear! I meant that thou best wilt over- 



22 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act i 

come these Ethiopians, seeing that thou and Pharaoh art all but 
the same in Kingship! 

Moses. Thou thinkest much! Say thou to Pharaoh 

[He turns away.] 

Epiphras. [Officiously.] Yea, my lord, I hearken ! 

Moses. [Abruptly.] Hast thou a papyrus with thee, that I 
may read of this matter? 

Epiphras. [Handing him a scroll.] Pardon, my lord! I was 
in such haste to receive thine answer to Pharaoh that I all but 
forgot ! 

[Almost violently, Moses unfolds it and reads here and 
there, at random. Then, as if outdone, he presses it 
hack into the other's startled hands. 

Moses. I cannot go! Say thou to Pharaoh, I — I am not fit to 
go! [Then, exasperated as Epiphras stands staring at him.] 
Dost thou not hear? Back to the Palace! I cannot go! 

Epiphras. [Stammeringly.] But — my lord — I 

[He stops abruptly, as the Princess Thermuthis, a lovely 
woman whose late thirties have but enhanced the delicate 
beauty of her youth, enters from the right, borne on a 
litter by Egyptian guards, and preceded by Zityne. 

Epiphras. [Bowing profoundly.] The Princess ! 

Thermuthis. [Acknowledging the greeting of Moses and 
Epiphras.] Prince Moses! And Epiphras! Well met! [To 
Moses, as Epiphras draws near Zityne, in response to the 
invitation in her eyes.] And doth he carry back to Pharaoh 
my father thy pledge to overcome the Ethiopians? 

Moses. [In a low voice.] Nay, Princess, I have but just told 
him, I [slowly] — I am not fit! 

Thermuthis. [Quickly.] Nay, Moses, but thou doest thyself 
an injustice! [Quickly, before he can interpose.] Ah, 'twas 
ever thy wont, from the time thou wert a little child, to think 
others surpassed thee in beauty and wit and goodness of heart! 
How well I remember! But thou art wrong, Moses! Surely 
none is more fit than thyself for this difficult task! 

Moses. [In a low voice.] Oh, Princess, thou hast ever been 
so kind! It grieveth me to deny thee, but — I am not fit! 

Epiphras. [Officiously stepping forward.] My lord is de- 
terred by his youth. Princess! 



ACT i] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 23 

Thermuthis. [Sharply.] It is not that, Epiphras! Prince 
Moses is not too young! [With an imperious gesture to the 
guards y she alights from the litter; then, to Epiphras.] Go, 
thou, return to the Palace, and tell Pharaoh my father that 1 
myself will bear back the answer! 

Epiphras. [Prostrating himself.] As thou say est. Princess! 
Farewell ! 

[With a covert glance at Zityne, he goes out hurriedly, 
right. 

Thermuthis. [To Zityne.] And thou, Zityne, pray wait for 
me yonder [with a gesture, right], with the guards! 

Zityne. And the new pleasure-garden, Princess? It is very 
wonderful and bright, and so restful, when you are tired, to 
watch the Hebrews work! 

Thermuthis. [With a smile.] Another time, Zityne! We 
will not visit the pleasure-garden to-day! 

[Zityne, bowing deeply, withdraws right, followed by the 
guards with the litter. 

Thermuthis. [Coming closer to Moses.] And now that we 
are alone, Moses, tell me thy thought upon this matter! 

Moses. [As if putting something from him.] They are hard 
thoughts, not easy to tell. Princess, and most uneasiest to thee! 

Thermuthis. At least it was not what that presumptuous 
messenger of my father's but now suggested? 

Moses. Pardon, Princess, I did not note it! 

Thermuthis. [With hesitation.] Thy youth ! He said 

thou wast deterred in going by thy youth! [Between pleading 
and annoyance.] Thou didst not say that, Moses? 

Moses. [Slowly.] Not that! My youth is not why I may 
not go against the Ethiopians! — Though in comparison with 
many of thy father's generals, I am young. Princess! 

Thermuthis. In comparison with his generals, yea, per- 
chance! But [earnestly drawing closer] thou art no longer a 
boy, Moses! Dost thou not realize that a man's world awaits 
thee? 

Moses. [In a low voice.] I have thought thereon to-day, 
Princess ! 

Thermuthis. Only to-day? 

Moses. Nay, not only to-day, — often! I think from the very 



24 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act i 

first, Princess! It was as if before I knew with my mind, my 
blood taught me! [With gathering passion.] Oh, Princess, thou 
couldst not guess the pain! — to look up from my cushioned seat 
beside Pharaoh and thyself, when we were driving hither and 

yon, and see them toiling in the field ! And to loiow it 

was no ordinary toil, but passing bitter! And to know it was 
not for themselves, but for the treasure cities of alien people! 
And, oh, Princess [very low], to know myself of them, — and yet 
a plaything in thy father's court ! 

Thermuthis. [Reproachfully.] Moses! Of what speakest 
thou? Thou art no plaything! If thou didst know 

Moses. Forgive me! [Then, with a strong effort at self- 
command.] I should not have spoken! There was something — 
nay, it is this which I may not tell thee! 

Thermuthis. [Sadly.] Thou fearest to say what is in thy 
mind? And to me! Ah, Moses, have I been so little to thee, 
all the years, that thou fearest me now, at the end? 

Moses. [Gently.] Thou hast been so much. Princess! It is 
that which makes it hard! 

Thermuthis. [Regarding him with sudden hope.] I have 
been much to thee? Is it true, I have been much? 

Moses. [Reverently.] My mother herself scarce more! But 
— thou art not my mother! 

Thermuthis. [Starting, then, with gathering passion.] No, 
Moses! Though sometimes, I almost thought — thou thoughtedst 
it! Long ago, that first morning, when I bathed in Holy Nile, 
and thy little barque floated to me, and I caught thee close, thou 
wert my babe, then! I had none other! [Half to herself, wist- 
fully.] I was naught but a young girl, desiring a child, as it were 
for play! Often our Egyptian maids are like that, desiring a play 
child, — before they know of love! 

Moses. More than once hath Miriam told me how kind thou 
wert! 

Thermuthis. [Swiftly.] It was not kindness! Oh, Moses, 
Moses, surely thou seest that as I see it! Surely there is no need 
of words between us! I saved thee from the bulrushes for what 
thou shalt do! 

Moses. [With repressed excitement.] Thou feelest it, too. Prin- 
cess, — this mission that I cannot understand, that draweth me? 



ACT i] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 25 

Thermuthis. It is for the people's sake! That is why thou 
must first go into Ethiopia! 

Moses. For my people? Thou sayest that, Princess, thou, 
Pharaoh's daughter? 

Thermuthis. [Wistfully.] Call me not "Pharaoh's daughter"! 
'Thermuthis"! Canst thou not say it, yet? 

Moses. [Gently.] Thermuthis ! It is beautiful, thy name, 

like thyself! [With sudden passion, unconscious of her flush.] 
Oh, why art thou not Queen? Then could such crimes not be? 

Thermuthis. [Softly.] Perchance I shall be Queen one day! 
[Rousing herself.] But what crimes dost thou speak of? 

Moses. Must I then tell thee? Yea, perchance it is for the 
best! It is time I spake, and then indeed thou wilt comprehend 
why I cannot go into Ethiopia! These bricks [with a passionate 
gesture] — they are the grave-stones of my people! 

Thermuthis. [Paling.] The grave-stones ? Of thy peo- 
ple ? 

Moses. [Bitterly.] Yea, verily! Designed of Pharaoh thy 
father to crush my brothers from the earth! 

Thermuthis. [Thoughtfully.] Ah, it is that which troubles 
thee! 

Moses. [As before.] Yea, that f Is it not enough? For 

he hath made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar and in 
brick, and in all manner of service in the field! All their service 
wherein he hath made them serve hath been with rigor! 

Thermuthis. Moses! Thou art angry! And yet have I done 
naught ! 

Moses. [Laughing harshly.] Naught! When thou hast drawn 
the fangs of the only man that could succor them! 

Thermuthis. [Gently.] But, Moses — it is not thy doing, the 
bondage! Nor canst thou undo it! Why concernest thou thy- 
self with it? 

Moses. [Starting.] Of a truth — I know not! And yet — oh, 
that thou couldst understand ! 

Thermuthis. [Patiently.] I have begged thee to speak 
plainly! Full well thou knowest I am not like Miriam thy sister, 
that I should understand parables, and my mind leap forward to 
the discovering of a dark matter! 

MosES. Nay, Princess, forgive me! I scarce know what I say! 



26 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act i 

[Suddenly compassionate.] Thou art more gentle than she, who 
sometimes seemeth scarce at all a woman! Yet in this which I 
have done, even she would quail! [Whispering.] Princess, — my 
hand is red! 

Thermuthis. [Solicitously.] Some one provoked thee! Some 
one — from my father? 

Moses. Yea, Batinas, the cruel taskmaster great Pharaoh hath 
set over my brothers! 

Thermuthis. Thou hast killed him? 

Moses. [Bowing in assent.] Because he was slowly killing and 
swiftly dishonoring my brother! 

Thermuthis. [Quickly.] Doth any know? 

Moses. No one, I think, except the slave to whom these bricks 
pertain for thy pleasure-garden! 

Thermuthis. [Softly.] I would thou wert not so bitter! I 
shall see he is not harmed! And, Moses, thou knowest it is not 
my will that the Hebrews should be so burdened! Thou knowest 
I never had power over my father, except that little, long ago, 
when he was young, to let me keep thee, as a babe! 

Moses. [With a little smile.] I know! And he hath hated me 
ever since my childish fingers tore the glittering crown from off 
his head! It was his foolish soothsayers who frightened him! 

Thermuthis. [With meaning.] It was not only his sooth- 
sayers! 'Twas Miriam, thy sister! She made a song upon it, 
and sang it as a little maid, even in Pharaoh's presence! How 
she maddened him! 

Moses. [Impatiently.] She understood not what she sang! 
'Tis often so ! She should have been wed ! Then would her heart 
grow quiet! 

Thermuthis. [Slowly.] I know not! Marriage doth not al- 
ways still the heart! There are dreams, Moses, — even upon the 
marriage bed! I think it would have been so with thy sister! 

Moses. At any rate, now thou understandest — I must flee be- 
fore the thing is known! 

Thermuthis. And whither, Moses? 

Moses. Anywhere — so that I may not hear my brothers! It 
was a rash deed I did, one that I cannot finish! I must away, 
for it is a bitter thing to hear their groaning, and have no power 
to help them! 



ACT i] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 27 

Thermuthis. [Watching him.] Thou couldst have the power! 

Moses. No, no, I have naught! My sword against one man, 
yes! But what is one sword against ten thousand? 

Thermuthis. In thy hand, as thou standest, — naught! But in 
thy hand, as thou returnest, leader of a mighty host — ten thou- 
sand swords! 

Moses. And now, Thermuthis, speakest thou thyself in 
riddles! 

Thermuthis. [Gloiving,] Nay, plain — that he who runs may 
read! 

Moses. [Catching her excitement.] Princess — not Ethi- 
opia ? 



Thermuthis. Yea, of a surety! Is not that the weapon to 
thy hand ? 



Moses. But- 



Thermuthis. Swift! Swift! Get thee gone! And all thine 
armor upon thee! Overcome these foes of our kingdom, and when 

thou returnest 

[She stops, flushing and paling. 
Moses. What then, Thermuthis? 
Thermuthis. [Very low.] I shall be waiting — and Pharaoh 

my father grows old ! 

MosES. [Too self -engrossed to read her.] Thou wilt help me to 
help my brothers? 

Thermuthis. [Very wistfully.] Yea, Moses, I will help thee 
— so much as thou wilt let me! 

MosES. [Kissing her hands gratefully.] Then I go ! Thou 

art kind. Princess! 

Thermuthis. [Passionately, drawing down his face to hers.] 

Call me not kind / 

[She breaks off at the sound of a light step, left, and starts 
violently away, as Miriam enters. She is a few years older 
than Moses, but the tense absorption of her spirit, as in 
some secret purpose, gives her an effect of rapt agelessness, 
which the crowding years are powerless to dissipate. In 
the same austere way, she is beautiful, the dullness of her 
dress but heightening the effect of the scarlet chains and 
bracelets upon her body. Grasping the situation with a 
bare glatue, with an outward humility which is somehow 



28 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act i 

pride itself, she prostrates herself before Thermuthis, 
who, trying not to show her keen annoyance, acknowledges 
the greeting. 

Thermuthis. Why, Miriam, what doest thou here, this time 
of day? 

Moses. [With a smile that is half sad.] Thou wert not going 
to the pleasure-garden to see them toil? 

Miriam. [Sombrely.] Nay, I was not going to the pleasure- 
garden! I need not to hate Pharaoh any more! My hatred of 
Pharaoh is full and runneth over! 

Thermuthis. [Starting.] What meanest thou? 

Miriam. It is no matter! 

Moses. [Persuasively.] Nay, but, Sister 

Miriam. [Intent eyes on both.] I came to sing my song over 
the dead oppressor ! 

Thermuthis. How knewest thou? 

Moses. [Startled.] Is it noised abroad? 

Miriam. [With faint scorn.] Nay, brother! If it had been, I 
should scarce have noticed! [Turning to Thermuthis.] It is 
the things that are dark that to me are light, and hidden that to 
me are revealed! [Then, simply.] I heard his soul go by! 

Moses. [With hasty authority.] Such things cannot be! 

Thermuthis. [Strangely stirred.] Was it dark, his soul, like 
himself? [Then, hurriedly, putting the thought from her.] Nay, 
Miriam, tell me not! [Softly.] Though one day I shall ask thee 
many things! Now I must make haste back to the Palace! [As 
both stand silent.] Art thou not coming, Moses? 

Moses. [Hesitantly.] With thy permission. Princess! 

Thermuthis. [Feeling herself watched by Miriam.] And 
thou, Miriam — thou lookest strangely! There is something on 
thy mind ? 

Miriam. [After obeisance.] Perchance, Princess Thermuthis! 
But what can it be to thee, that which is on the mind of a 
daughter of Israel? 

Moses. [Reprovingly.] The Princess cares much, Miriam! 
[In a low voice, to Thermuthis.] Wait but a moment for me, 
yonder [with a gesture, right], and I will join thee! She is over- 
wrought — I must speak to her before I go! 

Thermuthis. [Reluctantly, feeling Miriam's smouldering 



ACT i] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 29 

eyes.] Tarry not long! She is strange, thy sister! And re- 
member thy promise, Moses! 

[She goes out, right, and Miriam and Moses, rising from 
their prostration, survey one another, half distrustfully. 

Moses. I have something to tell thee, Miriam! 

Miriam. [Indifferently.] Thou needest not ! 

Moses. [Controlling his annoyance.] Nay, Sister, no man 
knoweth this! I do but newly know it myself! 

Miriam. [With her light scorn.] If I waited for thee to 

know ! [Cuttingly.] So thou wilt marry her and rule Egypt, 

taskmasters and slaves together ! 

Moses. [Starting violently.] Art thou mad? Such a thought 
never came into my mind! 

Miriam. [Scornfully.] Then thou art blind! [Softly.] Or 
cruel, Moses? Is it that? 

Moses. [Restively.] Always I have tried to be patient with 
thee, seeing it was thou saved me from the great waters, but 

Miriam. [Passionately.] Yea, and for what did I save thee? 
Would God I had let Nile cover thee before ever thou wert be- 
come one with Pharaoh ! 

MosES. [Trying to calm her.] Art not thou ashamed, Miriam? 
Thou who but now didst guess — Jehovah knows how! — that I had 
killed an Egyptian! 

Miriam. That was before she came! 

Moses. Nay, but, Miriam! Thou dost not understand ! 

Miriam. [Dubiously.] She was in thine arms! 

MosES. [Flushing.] I was but making my promise to her! 

Miriam. [Bitterly.] Of marriage — that is what I say! [Tragi- 
cally.] Oh, Moses, dost thou not remember ? 

MoSES. [With angry explicitness.] My promise to go forth 
against the Ethiopians! [Quickly, seeing the horror m her face.] 
Not for Pharaoh's glory ! Nay, Miriam, believe me, I be- 
seech thee! But so that, in returning, I may be strong and can 
succor my brothers! 

Miriam. [Her arms dropping despairingly.] And with that 
wouldst thou help them? With a sword grown red in Pharaoh's 
service? Nay, nay, but with thy red sword dipped in the blood 
of the oppressor [seizing his sword and exultantly raising it above 
her head] — to-day ! To-day ! 



30 



CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act i 



Moses. [Wresting it from her.] Thou wilt hurt thyself! 
Thou, naught but a woman! Give it me! 

Miriam. [Flatly surrendering it, listening, as to something far 
off.] Yea, perchance the sword is not the way! I know not! It is 
dark! [Putting a detaining hand on his arm.] But thine is not 
the way! Thou must not go into Ethiopia! A snare awaits thee! 
I can see it plain — a beautiful snare — but it will trap thy feet! 
Thou must not go! [Stamping her foot.] I say thou must not 
go! [Scornfully, half to herself.] Thou wouldst wed her, a 
stranger woman! 

Moses. Be quiet, Miriam! Thermuthis doth not wish to wed 
me! Her husband died long since, and she never thinks on love! 

[As she tries to hold him.] Let me go! She waits ! And 

wilt thou tell the slave to hold his peace? He waits about — 
these are his bricks ! 

Miriam. [Sullenly.] Yea, I will tell him! 

MosES. [Slowly.] There was that about him [As if try- 
ing to put aside the impression.] Nay, why should I think ill of 
him? Is not he, too, a child of Israel? 

Miriam. Yea, Moses, but a child in bondage forgetteth often- 
times his father's house! 

Moses. [With swift admiration.] Oh, Miriam, thou art not as 
he! Thou couldst eat the bread of bondage a thousand years, and 
be free at the last! 

Miriam. [Quickly.] I hope I shall not need ! 

Moses. Nay, Sister! [Kissing her hurriedly.] And now fare- 
well! And say farewell to our father and mother and Aaron our 
brother ! 

Miriam. [Her arms fast about him.] Oh, Moses, have a care! 
I love thee — but thou hearkenest not! 

MosES. [Simply.] To thee, Miriam? Why should I? I 
hearken but to God! 

Miriam. [With swift passion.] And may not God speak 
through a woman? 

MosES. [Bluntly.] No! 

[He is about to go, but as Miriam suddenly assumes an atti- 
tude of deep listening, as to something far off, her eyes 
fixed on something, though invisible, yet of passionate real- 



ACT i] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 31 

ity, he pauses; and, as she slowly begins to speak, he 
stands fascinated. 

Miriam. [As if the medium.] Light ! Light ! Such 

as no man hath seen before ! Light ! It hurts mine 

eyes! I cannot look thereon! But my soul — ah, it pours into 
my thirsty soul like water sparkling from a brook! [She pauses, 
then.] But it is not like water! What is it like, then — this light 

somewhere, beyond? Light — and a voice speaking ! Whose 

voice? Not any man's / And always through the light! 

What is the light? Lo — it burns ! It burns ! Fire ! 

Fire ! Yet that whereon it burns is consumed not! [With 

heightening wonder.] And about it a great peace! And then 
something — something — I cannot tell! A Will, speaking in the 
voice and the fire — a Will, and a people that is not forgotten! [In 
passionate exultation.] A people that is not forgotten of God! 
[There is a moment of tense silejice, during which Miriam 
appears to move somewhat out of her trance-like state; but 
as Moses, deeply impressed, takes a step toward her, with 
a whispered "Miriam!" she motions him to silence; then, 
in her natural voice, but with intense solemnity. 
Miriam. Take off thy shoes! 
Moses. [Softly, obeying.] Why, Sister? 

Miriam. I do not know. [After a moment, passing her hand 
wearily across her eyes.] I think the place whereon thou stand- 
est was holy ground! 

MosES. [Simply.] I saw nothing! Nor heard I any voice but 
thine! 

Miriam, [With infinite wist fulness.] But thou wilt see! And 
thou wilt hear! [Very low, to herself.] Though perchance I 
heard first! 

Moses. [W onderingly .] How cometh it upon thee, Miriam? 
Thou art not like the soothsayers ! Thou reapest no gains ! Why 
doth it come upon thee? 

Miriam. I cannot tell! It cometh sometimes in a great joy! 
And som^etimes — yea, sometimes it cometh in a mighty fear! 
And always it is so great it overwhelmeth me, so that I may not 
properly make known what it was, and men will not heed me 
[hopelessly] — being but a woman! 



32 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act i 

Moses. [With hesitation.] I would heed thee, if thou wert ever 
as — then! Thine eyes — ah, Miriam, thine eyes were as if they 
saw God! 

Miriam. [Very wearily.] Was it so? 

Moses. [Replacing his shoes, trying to throw it off.] And now 
farewell! The Princess waits! 

Miriam. [Incredulously.] Moses! Thou art not going into 
Ethiopia after — after that which I have seen? 

MosES. [Turning pale.] It concerned not me — thy vision? 

Miriam. [Quietly.] Whom else? 

MosES. [kalf to himself.] Her eyes — as if she were seeing 
God! She may be mad — but dare I disobey? 

Miriam. [As before.] Thou canst not go into Ethiopia! 

MosES. I never wished it! But where, then, and what of my 
people? 

Miriam. [With decision.] Go tell the Princess thou canst not 
go! Tell her thou art in grave danger! And then — thine own 
heart will tell thee! Flee away, and wait for that which I have 
seen! [Suddenly she goes to him, and very tenderly puts her 
arms about him.] Oh, Brother, canst thou not trust me, seeing it 
is but my love for thee and for that which thou shalt do, which 
maketh me to know these things? 

MosES. [Looking into her eyes.] Thou art sure, Miriam? I 
know that oft thou hast been right before, in little things, but this 
is so great a matter ! 

Miriam. As great to me as thee! 

MosES. [Troubled.] It should not be so! Thou art a woman! 
Some one should wed thee! [Half wonderingly.] Thou art beau- 
tiful, Miriam — it is not yet too late! 

Miriam. [Drawing herself to her full height.] Shall I bear a 
child, who would bear a people? 

Moses. [Helplessly.] I understand not ! 

Miriam. [Simply.] Listen to me, Moses! Did not I guess of 
the Egyptian thou didst kill, without any bringing me the tidings? 

MosES. Yea, verily! 

Miriam. And now almost meseems as if it were a greater than 
he whose downfall I came forth to sing! [Under her breath.] 
An oppressor greater than he! But the time is not yet! [With 
quick imperiousness.] Go, Brother, tell the Princess thou hast 



ACT i] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 33 

great need to flee, that thou fearest thy crime will become known! 
She loves thee, and will send thee hence with all speed ! Only tell 
her not whither thou goest ! 

Moses. How can I when I know not myself? [After a mo- 
ment.] My mind is blank save for the land of Midian! 

Miriam. [Starting.] And why not Midian? Is Midian un- 
visited by God? 

MosES. [Under Ms breath.] How should I know? Never have 
I seen visions! 

Miriam. [With a tender smile.] So thought Jacob, perchance, 
that night he laid him down with a stone for a pillow ! 

Moses. [Dubiously.] But I am not Jacob ! 

Miriam. Nay, then [with sudden pride], thou art Moses! And 
perchance children shall one night gather round the candle to hear 
of thee, too! [After a loftg look, pushing him gently from her.] 
Farewell ! 

[He goes out and Miriam, as if very tired, stands, head bent, 
by the bricks, waiting. In a few moments, satisfied that 
the time is ripe, she raises her head, and stands looking, 
left. Presently the Hebrew slave timidly reenters. He 
starts at sight of Miriam. 

Miriam. [In low exultation.] He is dead, thine oppressor! 

Dathan. [Shivering.] Batinas, the Egyptian? Yea, Prince 
Moses hath killed him! 

Miriam. [With amazement.] Art thou not glad? 

Dathan. [Cringingly.] I fear ! 

Miriam. Wherefore? 

Dathan. [Gaspingly.] Men might say 'twas / that killed him! 

Miriam. And wouldst thou not be glad? 

Dathan. [Turning from her in horror.] Glad! Nay, Prin- 
cess! Would there not be death for me, even as for him, in the 
yellow sands? 

Miriam. [Half to herself.] And what is death? Is it not free- 
dom from the oppressor? 

Dathan. [Regarding her wonderingly .] Nay, Princess, I know 
not! 

Miriam. [In a low voice.] But / know! I know life is the 
shame, at the price of freedom! I know many things whereof 
I may not speak, lest they think me mad! I wonder is madness 



34 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act i 

but the gift of knowing? [Then, on an abrupt transition.} Hush, 
say nothing! No one will harm thee! [Bending over him, as he 
begins to sob.] I will tell the Princess Thermuthis! She will 
succor thee — she may even free thee, and then think of what thou 
canst do! She will be glad to aid thee [Half fiercely to her- 
self.] It easeth the heart from the great wrong to do a little right! 
[As he continues to sob.] But thou art in trouble! Is it thy fear? 

Dathan. [Desperately.] Nay, Princess, my wife! 

Miriam. [Starting.] Thou meanest ? 

Dathan. [Hoarsely.] Batinas, my master — he whom Prince 
Moses slew! 

Miriam. [Incredulously.] And thou art not glad he slew him? 

Dathan. [Wearily.] I am glad of nothing! [With sudden 
conviction.] She may say / should have killed him, — Shelomith, 
my wife! 

Miriam. Well ? 

Dathan. And what will my life be then, — with a woman that 
taunteth me for a coward? 

Miriam. [Swiftly.] What hath thy life been ever, in the house 
of bondage? 

Dathan. [Miserably.] I was used thereto! Now Prince 

Moses hath shown me there is a path out! 

Miriam. [Passionately]. Yea, the promise! The promise! 
Art thou not glad of the promise? 

Dathan. [As before.] I am glad of nothing! I fear! The 
bricks are many! [He begins to gather them drearily.] They 
are many. Princess, and they are hard to lift! 

Miriam. [Tragically, to herself.] A slave with the soul of a 
slave! Oh, my people! My people! 

[For a moment she watches him. Then she swoops down 
upon him, and begins to aid him, piling the bricks together 
in feverish energy. 

Miriam. See! I help thee, I, thy sister, a daughter of Israel! 
[As the slave surveys her, in open-mouthed astonishment.] Look 
not so! True, I am but a woman! And God cannot speak 
through a woman! [Bitterly.] Said he not so, Moses, my 
brother? Said he not so? [Then, exultantly.] But he went not 
into Ethiopia! He went not! Though he stayed but for a dream, 
— a dream of a woman! [Softly.] And there it will come to 



ACT i] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 35 

him — it will come to him face to face — the Promised Land! 
[After a moment, heaping the bricks.] And even now God can 
act through a woman! [Passionately.] Oh, thou slave! Thou 
slave! Art thou not a son of Israel, the firstborn of God? Canst 
thou not remember thy heritage? Canst thou not remember, thou 
who hast over thee the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob? 
[Bursting into passionate tears, and rocking herself to and fro 
upon the ground.] Am not I, Miriam, oppressed in thine op- 
pression? [Half brokenly, she helps him to his feet, laden with 
the bricks, then, with fresh strength.] Go forth to thy labor! I 
will protect thee! Go forth to thy labor! But not for long! 
Not for long! And remember, in the day of the liberation, I, 
Miriam, have spoken it! 



CURTAIN 



ACT II 

Scene: Pharaoh's Throne-Chamber. 

Time: An afternoon, some twelve years later. 

The scene is the wide open space of the audience chamber^ imme- 
diately before the throne itself, which is, at rise of curtain, 
divided from it by dark red curtains. There is little furniture 
about, except for a couple of seats, covered with the pelts of 
wild beasts. Tall palms are grouped about the pillars which 
support the roof. The brilliantly painted decorations upon 
the walls, however, preclude any impression of austerity which 
the room would otherwise convey. Instead, it is instinct with 
vivid, poisonous exuberance, and more tensely aware of the 
drama playing out about it than are the careless Egyptian 
Guards, lounging here in the burning sunlight. 

As the curtain rises, the argument which has swerved them from 
their game of dice is in full swing. 

1ST Guard. [With brisk finality, flinging down his dice-cup.]^ 
So there it is, and if you ask me, the sooner Pharaoh gets them 
out, the better! 

2ND Guard. [Reprovingly.^ It's fortunate he won't ask you! 
Nice sort of ruler you'd make, giving m to every little whim of 
your subjects! 

1ST Guard. But these Jews aren't his subjects! That's what I 
keep telling you! And if he doesn't wake up to it in the audience 
this afternoon, there'll be the devil to pay! 

2ND Guard. Not necessarily! There's always the chance 
Aaron will lose his rod, or run out of tricks! 

1ST Guard. [With a laugh.] It's a pity Pharaoh can't steal it! 
But seriously, they're a separate people, and he's got no right 
to hold them ! 

2ND Guard. [Slapping the dice-cup across the mouth of the ist 

Guard.] Sh ! That's treason! And after all the harm 

they've done! If you do it again, I'll report you to Pharaoh ! 

36 



ACT ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 37 

1ST Guard. [With lazy good-humor.] Go ahead! But you 
needn't think he'll thank you! He's got quite enough on his 
mind these days, poor old man! — without any extra heresy-hunt- 
ers! I tell you, he isn't through yet — just because we're having 
another of these respites! 

2ND Guard. [Impatiently rattling the dice.] Oh, well, let's go 
back to the game! Come now — what do you stake? 

1ST Guard. [With sudden excitement.] The whole game on 
Moses ! 

2ND Guard. [Disgustedly flinging down the dice-cup.] There 
you go again! I think he's got you bewitched! He or Aaron with 
that ridiculous rod! There's no playing with a man like you, 
but can't you at least talk about something else? The weather's 
delightful! 

1ST Guard. [With a wry smile.] So it is! And what an origi- 
nal topic! Anyhow, it's the one thing left they haven't made a 
mess of! [Stretching himself lazily, and half reclining.] Ooo! 
How good the sun feels on my legs! It's a mercy Mr. Aaron 
doesn't turn it into a cat! 

2ND Guard. [With a horrified movement.] Hush ! First 

treason — then blasphemy ! 

1ST Guard. [Smiling ruejuUy.] Blasphemy! How about turn- 
ing Holy Nile into blood! — But just let poor me mention a 

cat ! [With an intimate gesture.] By the way, did you know 

the Princess Thermuthis was so worked up over the whole affair, 
she forgot to go to Bubastis last week for the spring festival? 

2ND Guard. Of course I know it! Everybody's talking about 
it! Does that make it any better? Never since I have been in 
Pharaoh's court, have I seen such disrespect! And they say this 
year there were four sacred Kittens! 

1ST Guard. [Thought ftdly.] It's too bad! The Princess was 
always very fond of the festival at Bubastis! 

2ND Guard. [Crossly.] It's because of Moses! After all, she's 
only a woman, and any one can see how she feels! Though I 
certainly don't see why! Before he left, nothing but a dreamer, 
and 

1ST Guard. [Meditatively.] The Jews run to dreamers! And 
in Egypt at that! Must be something in the climate! Remem- 
ber the stories about Joseph? 



S8 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [ 



ACT II 



2ND Guard. Oh, well, he was different! It never affected Joseph 
the way it's affected this Moses — running up and down the city, 

stirring up the lowest of the slaves ! Some of them don't 

thank him, either! 

1ST Guard. He thinks he's their leader! 

2ND Guard. [Scornfully.] Well, nobody else wants them! But 
the Princess to be in love with him — that's what I can't under- 
stand ! 

1ST Guard. My dear fellow, in love all women are the same! 
You never can see the reason! Though in this case, the poor 
lady should have known what to expect when he refused to go 
into Ethiopia! 

2ND Guard. [Haughtily.] Osiris be praised such a marriage 
never transpired! Such ingratitude! The Princess Thermuthis 
is a thousand times too good for him! 

1ST Guard. [With a laugh.] She's a thousand times too old 
for him! 

[Before his shocked companion can frame an adequate reply , 
the portal at right opens, and Epiphras, much the same 
fls in Act I, enters. Seeing the court empty save for the 
two guards, he haughtily, though eagerly, approaches 
them.] 

Epiphras. [Greeting them, not without noting the dice-cups.] 
Well! Haven't you two got anything better to do this afternoon 
than gamble? 

2ND Guard. [Haughtily.] We are not gambling! We guard 
the throne-chamber of great Pharaoh! 

Epiphras. [Scoffingly.] Locking the door, after the horse is 
out of the stable! You ought to be dismissed! It's disgraceful 
— the way you let those locusts all over the palace! 

2ND Guard. [With dignity.] I was home on sick-leave! It 
was my wife, really ! 

1ST Guard. You never told me! 

Epiphras. [With assumed indifference.] What was the matter 
with her? 

2ND Guard. Hysterics! — One doesn't care to speak of such 
things! [Then, half reluctantly.] She — she's never been the 
same woman since the day the frogs got into her kneading- 
trough! 



ACT ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 39 

1ST Guard. Well, exactly! And yet you don't want Pharaoh 
to let them go! 

Epiphras. Why did you let her bake? You knew how Moses 
had threatened! 

2ND Guard. I told her not to! But it was the birthday of 
our eldest! She set her heart on making him a seed-cake! 

1ST Guard. Humph! You should have told her it would be a 
frog-cake! 

2ND Guard. We both thought it was all imagination ! 

Epiphras. [Hastily.] Well, of course it is, when it comes to 
that ! 

2ND Guard. Yes! [Then, shudderingly .] She makes me get 
up at night to throw them out of the bed! 

1ST Guard. [Quizzically.] And then I expect you get to feel- 
ing them, too! 

2ND Guard. [Irritably.] Maybe I do! And maybe that's why 
I'd like to talk about something else! [To Epiphras.] What 
are you wandering about for? 

Epiphras. [Importantly, coming to a halt.] I'm not wander- 
ing about! I am waiting to carry a message for the Princess 
Thermuthis ! 

1ST Guard. [Glancing left.] I hear steps! [Fussily adjusting 
his mantle.] I shouldn't wonder if it wasn't that pretty little 
maid of hers! 

[The portal left swings wide, and Zityne, gayly dressed, 
enters self-importantly. Seeing the three men all devour- 
ing her with their eyes, she smiles flirtatiously at the ist 
Guard, all but ignores the second, and goes to Epiphras. 

Epiphras. [Greeting her with heavy ardor.] Zityne ! 

Zityne. [With a good deal of manner.] I'm so glad you're 
here, Epiphras! It makes me frightfully nervous, waiting about 
nowadays ! 

1ST Guard. [Before Epiphras can respond.] You may be 
nervous. Miss Zityne! But do you know, you're the first person 
I've seen that the plagues are becoming to! 

Zityne. Sh ! Don't be silly! I look a perfect ghost — I've 

been through such a lot! Eight whole plagues — just fancy it! 

2ND Guard. [Under his breath.] Osiris grant they are over! 

Epiphras. [Drawing her aside.] I want to talk to you, Zityne! 



40 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

These are no times for a young girl to go about unprotected! 
Now, you're getting pretty good compensation from the Princess, 
aren't you? [Then, as he reads a rather jiippant surprise hi her 
eyes.] Never mind — don't answer yet! How can we get those 
fellows out? 

ZiTYNE. [Regarding the ist Guard out of the tail of her pretty 
eyes.] Oh, they aren't paying any attention to us! Speak per- 
fectly freely, Epiphras, just as if they weren't here! Yes, my 
pay's all right! Isn't yours? 

Epiphras. [In sudden embarrassment.] Um 

2ND Guard. [Lounging up to them.] Pardon! But I under- 
stood you to say you were carrying a message for the Princess ! 

Epiphras. [Haughtily, turning his back.] So I am! 

1ST Guard. [Ingratiatingly.] You, too. Miss Zityne? 

ZiTYNE. [With sudden mischief.] Yes, I've got the message for 
Epiphras! And it's perfectly idiotic! [She turns to Epiphras.] 
She wants you to bring his sister here before audience with 
Pharaoh ! 

Epiphras. [Turning pale.] Whose sister? Not Moses' ? 

Zityne. [Clapping her hands.] Yes, Miriam! Isn't it too 
lovely? And for you — when you're so terribly afraid of her! 
Oh, don't say you aren't! I know you are! Why, most every- 
body is, except the Princess! 

1ST Guard. [Curiously.] Does the Princess like Miriam? 

Zityne. [The men grouped about her, eager for gossip.] Of 
course she can't like her! But ever since the plagues began 
there's been a queer kind of fascination! You know — like in 
danger ! 

2ND Guard. [Hastily.] I never felt the slightest fascination in 
danger ! 

Epiphras. Nor I ! 

Zityne. [Pointedly.] No, some people don't! 

1ST Guard. [Boldly.] I feel it, Zityne! That's what at- 
tracted me to you! 

Zityne. [Tapping his cheek.] Hush! Aren't things too seri- 
ous to be silly? 

1ST Guard. [As before.] They're so serious, you've got to be 
silly! There's nothing else left! You know the old proverb — 
"Let us eat, drink and make love, for to-morrow we " 



ACT ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 41 

ZiTYNE. [Stifling a scream, her hands to her pretty ears.] No! 
No! Don't say that word! It makes me afraid! [Beginning to 
cry, as they look at her in sudden alarm.] Now you've spoiled 
it all ! That word you said 

1ST Guard. I didn't say it! 

ZiTYNE. But you thought it! [Gazing about her fearfully.] 
We all thought it! Didn't we? [Then, peremptorily to Epi- 
PHRAS.] Hurry up! Get Miriam here! 

Epiphras. [Grumblingly .] I don't see why it should be me 
all the time! I should think somebody else could go to their old 
house! 

1ST Guard. I'll go! I'd be glad to get a glimpse of Zipporah! 

ZiTYNE. [Smiling, in restored confidence.] You won't, neces- 
sarily, you know! They say she goes gadding about as soon as 
Moses is out of the house! 

1ST Guard. It looks as if he'd made a mistake there, whatever 
else he got out of Midian. 

2ND Guard. For my part, I think she shows sense in not being 
like the other Jewish women! 

ZiTYNE. Miriam doesn't think so! They say she's very scorn- 
ful of Zipporah because she wants Moses to give up all this plague 
business and settle down! They even hint [dropping her voice, 
as they crowd about her] — she'll try to do something terrible if she 
ever has the chance ! 

Epiphras. [Incredtdously.] I don't believe it! Whom could 
she get to help her? 

1ST Guard. [Carelessly.] Oh, there's always some one for that 
sort of thing! That fellow Dathan, for instance — that Moses 
killed the Taskmaster for, a long way back! They say he's look- 
ing for trouble! 

2ND Guard. But why? He was never blamed! Why, I 
thought he even got his freedom! 

1ST Guard. Yes, through the Princess ! She's so soft 

ZiTYNE. [Loyally.] She's so sweet! 

1ST Guard. Some trouble about his wife — I never under- 
stood 

ZiTYNE. [Suppressing a yawn.] Well, anyway, I'd simply love 
to see if Moses' wife is there! [Turning to the ist Guard.] I 
think I'll just go along with you ! 



42 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

Epiphras. [Pompously.] Zityne! I am surprised! It is / 

who am commanded to, and however foolish 

[He stops, confused, as the portal, right, swings open, and 
Thermuthis herself, very pale, in long, trailing gray gar- 
ments, enters. Reading at a glance the flushed faces of all 
four, she seems nevertheless too depressed for expostula- 
tion, but, returning their profound bows briefly, goes to 
Epiphras. 

Thermuthis. [Wearily seating herself.] What said Miriam? 

Epiphras. [Very embarrassed.] Pardon, most noble Princess! 
I — I have not yet been ! 

Thermuthis. [Wearily to Zityne.] Thou hast been chatter- 
ing again! A parrot had been as useful! 

Zityne. [Sniffling.] Pardon, Princess! Of a truth, it is the 
first day in a week I have felt like saying a word! It's such a 
relief to have those awful plagues over! 

Thermuthis. [Starting.] Over? And who sayeth they are 
over? Hath not there been other respites? And was it not 
ever more terrible thereafter? [With weary impatience to Epi- 
phras.] Go! Fetch hither Miriam the sister of Moses! Say 
I would speak with her before the audience! [As he bows, and 
goes out, left.] And hasten! 

Zityne. [Hovering about.] Pardon, Princess, but is it true 
she hath the gift of divination? 

Thermuthis. How should I know? Perchance is there no 
such gift! 

1ST Guard. [Eagerly, bowing low.] Pardon, Princess, but is it 
not the talk of the court that Miriam went throughout the city 
the night before they turned Holy Nile into blood, prophesying 
the same? 

Thermuthis. [Haughtily, suppressing a shiver.] So I have 
heard, but I know not! 

2ND Guard. [Timidly, bowing low.] Pardon, most noble Prin- 
cess, but if she knew that, might she not know if we were through 
now? 

Zityne. [Softly, trying to quiet him.] Hush! Trouble not the 
Princess! 

Thermuthis. They trouble me no more than thou, Zityne! 



ACT ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 43 

[Turning to the 2nd Guard.] I cannot answer thy question. 
[As ij to herself.] I know only I know nothing! 

[Hushed in spite of themselves by her drooping figure and 

tragic face, they retire left, and Zityne softly unfurls the 

fan of Thermuthis, and moves it to and fro before her 

face. After a moment. 

Thermuthis. [In a far-away voice.} I have no need thereof, 

Zityne! 

Zityne. [Stopping mechanically.] Of the fan, Princess? Par- 
don, it is so hot here in the sunlight, I thought it would cool thee! 
Thermuthis. I am not warm! Indeed, I have been cold from 
noon on ! 

Zityne. [Wonderifigly, ptitting away the fan.] And yet the 
sun is hot, praised be Osiris! 

Thermuthis. [Regarding the patch of sunlight at her feet.] 
It would be strange, Zityne, would it not, if the sun should one 
day darken? 

Zityne. Nay, but, Princess, the setting of the sun is a beautiful 
thing! 

Thermuthis. I mean not in its setting, — and not in a great 
storm. But suddenly — suddenly — as it were, now! And there- 
after should shine no more forever! 

Zityne. [With a shiver.] I pray thee. Princess, speak not of 
such things! Praised be Osiris the sun is very bright! [Stretch- 
ing out her bare arm to the shaft of light.] And warm. Princess, 
warm and beautiful ! 

Thermuthis. [Stifling a sigh.] Yea, the sun is beautiful! 

[Softly.] So was Holy Nile before it was dark ! 

[Before Zityne can reply, the portal, left, opens abruptly, 
and Epiphras enters. Saluting Thermuthis, he holds 
wide the portal as Miriam comes in. Her manner is one 
of tense expectation, threatened on the one hand in the 
deeds already accomplished and on the other by a scorn 
which holds them as nothing, in comparison with that 
which she knows must follow. Her beauty is deeply glow- 
ing, burning through the simple attire of the Hebrew 
woman she is now wearing. She has aged very little. 
Epiphras. The Princess Miriam! 



44 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

Meriam. [Flashing him a dark glance.] I am Miriam! Under- 
standest thou? I accept no Eg3^tian title! 

Thermuthis. [Going toward her.] My messenger will remem- 
ber! [To Epiphras.] And now thou canst go! Thou and the 
rest! [As all four reltcctantly withdraw, the three men though 
trying to preserve their dignity all surreptitiously striving to be 
nearest Zityne, Thermuthis beckons Miriam to a seat beside 
her.] I thank thee for coming, Miriam! Even to my impatience 
thou hast been swift! 

Miriam. [Simply.] I was nigh at hand ! I knew thou wouldst 
want me! 

Thermuthis. [In a low voice.] Thou art kind! More kind 
than thy brother — though it used not so to be! 

Miriam. Nor is it now! He hath been about the city since 
day-break and he hath much to speak upon with Aaron, before 
the audience, — and with Zipporah his wife! 

Thermuthis. I have never seen Zipporah since that first day 
he brought her home. She is beautiful, but 

Miriam. [On guard.] What is it, Princess? 

Thermuthis. [With hesitation.] Doth she resemble thee, 
Miriam, in her hatred of the Egyptians? 

Miriam. [With suppressed bitterness.] Nay, Princess, I think 
she resembleth me in nothing! 

Thermuthis. [With restrained eagerness.] She loveth Egypt, 
then? She would be content to dwell here? 

Miriam. [Vehemently.] Why askest thou me such things? Is 
it for me, an Hebrew, to tell thee, Pharaoh's daughter, of the 
shame of my house? 

Thermuthis. [Pleadingly.] I had heard they — they thought 
not alike in all things — and I but thought that if to-day I might 
persuade Pharaoh my father to lighten the burdens, oh, much, 
much, Miriam — to lighten them indeed until they be scarce 

burdens at all! — all might yet be well — if — if [In a low 

voice.] Moses' wife Zipporah would but persuade him to give 
over this terrible affliction of the land of Egypt! 

^IiRiAM. [Sternly.] And what of us? What of the children 
of Israel? 

Thermuthis. [Weakly.] If it were not for the burdens, could 
not they worship their God here? 



ACT ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 45 

Miriam. [Rising in incredulous anger.] In Egypt? Beneath 
Pharaoh? And thou callest me, Miriam, hither, to ask me such 
questions? [Putting off the clinging hands of Thermuthis.] 
Nay, nay, I go! Thou canst order me flogged! Thou canst 
order me stoned! Thou canst throw my body to that holy river 
of thine which my brother turned to blood, and wherein the dead 
frogs stank! But thou canst not mock me with questions which 
are burning insults! 

Thermuthis. [Suddenly drooping, in a low voice.] Forgive 
me, Miriam! I called thee not for this! 

Miriam. [Sullenly, arrested by the change of manner.] For 
what, then? 

Thermuthis. [Very wistfully.] To ask of thee, what is be- 
yond? 

Miriam. [Returning slowly to her seat.] Beyond! What 
meanest thou? 

Thermuthis. Thou knowest what I mean! 

Miriam. In death? [As Thermuthis nods silently.] And 
thou, an Egyptian, askest this of me, Miriam! 

Thermuthis. Thou art a woman, even as I! And thou know- 
est more than I! Oh, thou mayest think it strange, Miriam, but 
ever I could have been thy friend, hadst thou not been so set 
upon this destiny of thy people! Truly, I think friendship hath 
naught to do with nations! It was naught to me, thy birth, but 
thou hadst never the time to look beyond my birth to me! 

Miriam. [Tragically.] I see ever my people — in the house of 
bondage! 

Thermuthis. [Softly.] And thyself, leading them into the 
Promised Land! 

Miriam. [Under her breath.] Nay, I shall not lead them! I 
am naught but a woman! Moses will lead them! 

Thermuthis. Yea, for he is strong and young! He seemeth 
ever to wax stronger since he kept those flocks in Midian! And 
he hath cast a spell upon the land — oh, I know! And unless 
Pharaoh my father will relent — and I think he will not — after 
the audience this day there will be more grievous trouble! 

Miriam. [In low exultation.] And then will he lead them out 
— my people, with a strong hand ! 

Thermuthis. And if he lead them, art thou so sure it will be 



46 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

into that Promised Land whereof he hath spoken to Pharaoh? 
Oh, it may flow with milk and honey, as he saith, but hast thou 
truly thought thereon, Miriam, if a man can lead men into the 
Promised Land? 

Miriam. [Regarding her curiously.] Why, what meanest thou? 

Thermuthis. I scarce know! It hath come to me so strangely! 
It came as it were in the brightness of the sun, which brought— I 
know not how — a cloud, and a cold shadow — and the thought of 
death! Thou shouldest know these things, Miriam! 

Miriam. I know them sometimes, Princess, but not to-day! 
No, not to-day! To-day I am glad! I think perchance I have 
never been glad before,— save when my brother killed our op- 
pressor! That was a great deed, but there will come a greater! 
[Suddenly, quite gently, she looks at Thermuthis.] I think 
perchance I pity thee, thou almost a Queen, who hath ever been 
so mighty, she could never know the joy of being raised up! 

Thermuthis. A Queen is not mighty! After all, thou art but 
a child! I thought thee older! With that new knowledge I have 
to-day, a Queen seemeth so slight a thing, guarded all her life on 
all the little paths to go forth at the last upon the great path- 
alone! 

Miriam. [Softly.] Perchance it is more lonely for a Queen to 

die! 

Thermuthis. I did not go to the festival at Bubastis! Heard- 
est thou? And but to-day a messenger did bring me word that 
the sacred Kitten hath died! [Showing a jewel to Miriam.] 
See? This is her image! It was an ill omen! It was her to 
whom I would have prayed in all this! And now she is dead, and 
the messenger, meseemed, looked askance at me, as if it were 
I had wrought the deed by not sacrificing unto her! And though 
I know I did not, yet there is a feeling as of lead upon my heart 
because I know that even had she lived, she could have availed 
me naught! 

[As if half surprised at herself, Miriam leans swiftly forward 
and with a murmured '7 pity theeT kisses Thermuthis 
upon the forehead; but as the Princess, in quick gratitude, 
is about to draw her closer, there is a step, left, and the two 
women draw apart, tensely conscious of their difference as 
Moses enters. Since the preceding act he has aged more 



ACT 



ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 47 



than Miriam, though less than Thermuthis, and, dressed 
no longer as an Egyptian, but as a Hebrew, carries himself 
with the assured manner of a leader. Though assured, 
however, he is in no sense personally aggressive, but rather 
as if calmly dependent upon an unfailing strength other 
than his own. Except to the effeminate standards of 
Pharaoh, he is handsome, at once virile and gentle. He 
looks surprised and somewhat annoyed at the sight of 
Miriam, but as Thermuthis rises, he seems to forget his 
sister, as, flushing deeply, he salutes the Princess, 
Thermuthis. [Gently.} I did not think to see thee before the 
audience! 

Moses. [Embarrassed.^ It is almost time therefor! And I 
desired to see thee first, if thou wilt pardon the presumption! 
Thermuthis. [Quietly.] There is no cause for pardon! 
Moses. [With effort.] Yea, Princess, there is much cause! 
When I consider what thou didst do for me as a babe, and what 

I do now unto thy land ! But it hath been laid upon me! 

Thermuthis. [With tragic self-realization.] I am but a stone 
that is in thy path, that must be flung away! A bramble that 
must be uprooted! 

Moses. Nay, Princess, I beseech thee! Never have I thought 
on thee as such things ! 

Thermuthis. I know, Moses! Perchance to a man with so 
great a mission as thyself, is there no time at all for thought upon 
such as I! I served a purpose once. To-day, thou only know- 
est me as a part of that hated race from which thou and thy 
people would be gone! 

Moses. [Suddenly stern.] Yea, and they are a hated race! 
And bitter burdens have they laid upon my people! Yea, and 
for thrice a lifetime hath the bondage been passing bitter, such 
as turned the heart to water, and the bread to ashes. It is time 
I led my people forth! 

Thermuthis. I know it for a truth! [Suddenly turning away 
and breaking into dry sobs.] But, oh, Moses, Moses, it was not 
of me, the bondage! It was not of me! 

Moses. [Austerely.] It was of thy fathers! And ours is a 
jealous God, a God that remembereth! Yea, I think it is thy 
fathers' sins visited upon thee! 



48 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

Thermuthis. [Wonderingly.] And that is thy God! And 
my gods, what are they? Ever since thine turned Holy Nile to 
blood, I have doubted mine. And yet I would not thy God! He 
is powerful, but he is cruel! [Suddenly struck by a thought. \ 
Oh, Moses, how knowest thou if he be indeed God? 

Moses. [Raptly.] I have heard His Voice! 

Thermuthis. [Very wistfully.] I would there were somewhere 
a God of Love ! 

Moses. That were blasphemy. Princess! [Softening, as he 
takes her hand.] Yet I pray thee to forgive me for what I 
must do! [As her hands drop wearily, he turns abruptly away.] 
Miriam! 

Miriam. [Coming forward.] What wouldst thou? 

Moses. I did not know where thou hadst gone! 

Miriam. The Princess desired me! 

Moses. It is well. [In a low voice.] She hath been ever kind 
to me, and I do pity her now, — though perchance I should not! 
But now return, I pray thee, unto Zipporah, and show her what 
lieth before us! 

Miriam. [Incredulously.] To Zipporah? To thy wife? Thou 
wouldst have me away from the audience? 

Moses. [With some impatience.] I shall be there — and Aaron! 
And thou canst guess what will befall! 

Miriam. [Exultantly.] Yea, — I can guess! But I would be 
there to see! 

Moses. But, Miriam, if thou canst guess — and Aaron and I 

will tell thee thereafter ! [Trying another tack.] Thou art 

but a woman — thou canst do naught with Pharaoh, and perchance 
thou canst with Zipporah! [Pleadingly.] Thou knowest I am 
much troubled! 

Miriam. [Bitterly.] And well hast thou cause! Thou that 
didst take to wife a stranger woman! 

Moses. I knew not it was a fault! Thou didst tell me to 
beware a snare in Ethiopia — thou saidst naught upon the women 
of the land of Midian ! 

Miriam. I knew that a vision awaited thee — a vision and a 
cause! How could I tell thou wouldst see first a woman! Thou 
that seemedst like none of the others! 

Moses. [Restlessly.] Yet I pray thee, Miriam, go to her! I 



ACT 



ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 49 



have marked she liketh well to hearken unto thy voice in the 
spells ! 

Miriam. [Scornfully, though watching him closely.] Be- 
cause she hopeth I will tell her of the shepherd-youths by the 
fountain in her land, and of how they sigh now that she is thy 
wife! 

Moses. [Patiently.] Nay, Miriam, I think she pineth for her 
father and his flocks! 

Miriam. [Flashing him a swift smile.] I was but trying thee! 
At least thou art not jealous! 

Moses. Nay, I am not jealous! Perchance Zipporah would 
like me better if I were! 

Miriam. So thou knowest that! [With sudden violence.] Oh, 
Brother, how couldst thou wed her who loveth the fleshpots of 
Egypt more than the freedom of a people? [Before he can reply, 
ZiTYNE, Epiphras and the guards reenter, right, saluting the 
Princess and, very differently, Moses and Miriam, Zityne taking 
her place by the Princess.] 

Moses. It is time! I beseech thee to go! [Without a word, 
Miriam turns from him, and, with a salutation to Thermuthis, 
and a murmured ^^ Farewell, Princess!" goes out, left.] 

Zityne. [Timidly, to the Princess.] Pardon, Princess ! 

Thermuthis. [Abstractedly.] What wouldst thou? 

Zityne. I am afraid to speak to him, but 

Thermuthis. [Annoyed.] Of what and of whom speakest 
thou, Zityne? 

Zityne. [With a gesture toward Moses.] Of his wife, Zip- 
porah ! [As Tijermuthis starts.] She is outside! 

Thermuthis. [To Moses, with an effort.] Thy wife, Moses, 
would speak with thee! 

Moses. [Starting violently.] My wife ? Here ! 

[He strides to the door, right, and opens it, disclosing Zip- 
porah, a voluptuously beautiful and discontented woman. 

Moses. [Incredulously.] It is thou! 

Zipporah. [Composedly.] Yea, I ! 

Moses. [With an effort to ignore the prying eyes of the at- 
tendants.] But, Zipporah ! Our children are not sick? 

Zipporah. [As before.] No one is sick! Or rather [her voice 
rising], no one but I! 



50 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

Moses. [Surprised.] Thou art sick, Zipporah? Then surely 

thy couch 

Zipporah. Hearken, Moses! I am sick with loneliness! And 

terror — lest Pharaoh do thee an injury, and 

Moses. [Hurriedly, seeing the guards preparing to draw back 
the curtains about the throne.] Miriam hath gone to sit with 
thee! [Pushing her gently toward the door, left.] She waits! 
Zipporah. [Miserably.] I have no need of thy sister Miriam! 

I 

Moses. [With sudden sternness.] I pray thee — go! 

[She goes out reluctantly, and a moment later the curtains 
are drawn back, revealing, on a raised dais, the scarlet 
throne of Pharaoh. It is empty, but as the guards, or- 
dered ''Take your places!" by Epiphras, start slowly for- 
ward, 07ie on either side of the pillars beneath the dais, 
and the Princess, attended by Zityne, mounts toward the 
seat at the right of the throne, Pharaoh himself, an old 
man, handsome and sinister and dressed in utmost pomp, 
attended by guards and courtiers, majestically enters from 
a door at the left of the dais, and takes his seat upon the 
throjje. Soothsayers, magicians, ladies of the court, and 
musicians, stream in about him, the brilliant clothes 
of the women and of Pharaoh himself contrasting 
with the dark robes of the magicians and soothsayers 
and with those of the Princess Thermuthis, who 
now, attended by Zityne, takes her place at the right of 
the throne. As Pharaoh's eyes catch sight of Moses, 
who, throughout the ceremony, has stood in proud isola- 
tion where Miriam has left him, his eyes turned toward 
the court, but preoccupied and grave, Pharaoh beckons 
Epiphras to his side. 
Pharaoh. Say we are ready! 

Epiphras. [Prostrating himself, in a loud voice.] Great Pha- 
raoh is ready! 

[There is a long movement of deep and prolonged prostration 
on the part of all but Moses, who, barely inclining Ms 
head, stands silently waiting. 
Pharaoh. [Insolently.] Who is that fellow? 
Epiphras. [Confused.] Why, that, sire — that is Moses! 



ACT ii] CHILDREN O? ISRAEL 51 

Pharaoh. [Still as if Moses coidd not hear him.] Ah, yes — 
Moses! [Turning sarcastically to Thermuthis.] His respect 
to us showeth well that tutelage of thine! 

Thermuthis. [With dignity, in the general titter.] Moses 
hath passed beyond my tutelage ! 

Pharaoh. [Coldly.] So it would seem! And it had been well 
if thou, foreseeing this, hadst kept the laws of thy land! [With 
mounting anger.] Holy Nile had been a very proper burying- 
place for him who would later defile it! 

Thermuthis. [Looking him in the face.] I did not know, my 
lord, that thou believedst Moses had defiled Holy Nile! I 
thought thou saidst 'twas all a trick, and without substance of 
truth? 

Pharaoh. [Attnoyed.] And so it was! Did not our magicians 
do as much? [Turning to the Chief Magicians, threateningly.] 
Answer me! Did ye not? 

1ST Magician. [Old and trembling.] Pardon, great Pharaoh! 
I deemed that we had, until of late — in my great sickness of the 
grievous boils, I deemed perchance 

Pharaoh. [Curtly interposing.] Enough! We have no time 
to bandy words in this contentious spirit! The plagues — or such 
fancied appearance of them as hath beguiled the imaginations of 
our older and weaker subjects — are over! We understood Moses 
craved audience with us, and though we see naught further to be 
said, yet in our clemency, being a most gracious sovereign, and 
one ever attentive to the slight whim even of a race of slaves — 
such as these Jews — we have granted it! If perchance the eyes 
of Moses are affected by the brightness of our holy sun, so that 
in his bright beams he discerned us not, nor made obeisance, yet 
if he be recovered now, and can make the same, we will hear him, 
though we have no idea for what he cometh thither! 

Moses. [From where he stands.] Thou art wrong, great Pha- 
raoh! Mine eyes are affected not by the brightness of the Egyp- 
tian sunlight! For truly, oh, King, thy sun at his highest seem- 
eth but dim before that Light whereon I gazed in Midian! 

Pharaoh. Our sunlight dim? Nay, then, thine eyes are sick 
indeed if so it seemeth to thee, and perchance their best physician 
would be the darkness of a dungeon-cell ! 

MosES. [With dignity.] I have not said thy sun was dim, great 



52 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

Pharaoh ! I say that by the brightness of the glory of the Burning 
Bush 

Pharaoh. Silence! I have heard enough of that vision of 
thine! I daresay the chief of my Magicians could do as much 
for me any day! [Turning to the Chief Magician.] Speak! 
Is it not so? Canst not thou make me to see our Gods? 

1ST Magician. [Tremblingly.] Pardon, most holy Pharaoh! 
I scarce know — I have been very sick! 

Pharaoh. [Impatiefitly.] I have no time to hear thereon! 
[Aside to his courtiers.] He is too old! Look how his hands 
tremble! I must get me young men from beyond Rameses! [To 
Moses.] Well? We cannot wait all day! Perchance thou 
speakest so much with slaves that thou forgettest to whom thou 
speakest now — that we are Pharaoh, the great king! 

MosES. I remember ! 

Pharaoh. [Sternly.] The place to remember is upon thy 
knees, thy face bowed to the earth! 

MosES. Thou askest, great Pharaoh, that which is beyond my 
power to give thee! 

Pharaoh. What is this? Thou, brought up as a prince, in 
our court? Thou canst not show us this much of homage? 

MosES. [With fine scorn.] After that which hath passed be- 
tween us, Pharaoh, after that which by the hand of the Lord 
our God, we have brought upon the land of Egypt, after the 
fiery hail, and the murrain and the frogs, after the locusts and 
the thick flies and the boils, after the lice upon thy sacred beasts, 
and after the turning of thy holy river into blood, wouldst thou 
indeed the lying homage of a bended knee? 

Pharaoh. [Biting his lip.] Come hither! 

MoSES. If it please thee, not without Aaron my brother! 

Pharaoh. Where is he? 

MosES. [Pointing to the left portal.] He waits without. He 
wished not to disturb his mind with any talk until thou shouldst 
summon us before thee! 

Pharaoh. [Sarcastically.] He is grown of much importance 

since his conjuring tricks! [To Epiphras.] Go fetch Aaron! 

[Epiphras bows and, going down, flings open the portal, 

ushering in Aaron, a man older and more impressively 

dressed than Moses, carrying a rod and who, in his con- 



ACT 



ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 53 



siderable self-importance conveys, however, less of real 
power and vision than Moses. Escorted by Epiphras, 
he joins his brother, briefly inclines himself before Pha- 
EAOH, then, preceded by Epiphras, with Moses he ap- 
proaches the dais, pausing somewhat beneath, and a little 
to right of the throne. Again Aaron, though slightly, 
bows to Pharaoh. 

Pharaoh. [Pleased by the salutation.'] Hail, Aaron! Thou art 
more mannerly than thy brother, though thou knowest not so 
much of courts. 

Aaron. [With smooth ambiguity.] It is but for so short a time 
I have the opportunity, great Pharaoh! 

Pharaoh. [Suspiciously.] What meanest thou by that? 

Aaron. Briefly, oh Pharaoh, and that I be not tedious to thee 
— for thou hast told me more than once of late that I am tedious, 
and indeed in more than words that thou deemedst me so, didst 
thou show me the last time I was in thy presence, when, we having 
abated the thick locusts, thou didst drive us forth with violence, 
both me and my brother, — then briefly, oh Pharaoh, I mean that 
after to-day I shall no more behold thee, since now indeed thou 
must let the people go! 

Pharaoh. [Turning to Thermuthis.] It is strange how some 
persons will harp on one string! 

Thermuthis. [In a low voice.] Perchance it were better to 
grant what he asketh, lest the string snap! 

Pharaoh. Nay, but I do not like the tune! It is for him to 
give over his harping! [To Aaron and Moses.] Know ye not 
it is a very sorry tune, that whereon ye play, a tune not fit for 
the ears of conquerors such as I? 

Aaron. [With sudden fire.] I know ye not as a conqueror, oh 
Pharaoh! Thou, a greater tyrant than ever thy tyrannical fa- 
ther was before thee! And if it is over such as we that thou 
thinkest thyself the victor, thou art no better than mad, for pride 
and vainglory of heart are ever the marks of madness in a king 
as in humbler men. And if because for a brief span Jehovah 
giveth thee power to oppress us. His chosen, flatter not thyself 
that such will continue to be the case, or that the whole period 
of our bondage or of thy apparent power is more than a vesture 
of His great glory! For verily thou canst do naught against 



54 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

Him, oh Pharaoh, seeing that even in that hardness of heart 
whereof thou vauntest thyself to thy weary court, He is but 
glorified the more, having ordained the same from the very be- 
ginning! 

Chief Magician. [Timidly.] Pardon, great Pharaoh, but 
would it please thee to forbid the blasphemy of this man? It 
displeaseth the gods of Egypt very sorely! 

Phaeaoh. [Irritably.] Thou hearest? Speak no more of thy 
God! 

Moses. [Passionately.] Then command us to silence forever- 
more, oh Pharaoh, or swiftly, swiftly let us forth! For to speak, 
and to speak not of God, that were to deny the deepest that is in 
us I 

Pharaoh. [Curiotisly.] I speak much, and my courtiers speak 
much — when I permit them! — but seldom do we speak of our 
gods. Why is it that thou and thy people are different? 

Moses. Let my brother answer thee, oh Pharaoh, for he is 
more learned than I, and hath the greater power of words! 

Pharaoh. Not so! For I am weary of his words! They are 
too many! I like thee better, and thy downright speech [has- 
tily recollecting himself] — though in truth I like thee not at all, 
and I have ever thought, though Aaron worketh his evil imagin- 
ings with that rod he is now fingering, yet I have ever thought it 
was thou, Moses, more than he, which art accountable for the 
grievous ills which have seemed to come to pass! 

Aaron. [Sternly.] Then know, oh, Pharaoh, that it is neither 
he nor this our rod which is truly accountable, but that Je- 
hovah at Whose name the chief of thy magicians trembleth, and 
before Whose deeds the land of Egypt hath lain in deeper bond- 
age than thou metedst out to the children of Israel! And lest 
more come upon the land, oh, Pharaoh, and upon thyself, I pray 
thee, keep us no more, but let us go forth unto our Promised 
Land, we and our little ones, our flocks and our herds, to wor- 
ship Him Who hath made a covenant with our fathers! 

Pharaoh. [Half rising in his anger.] Silence! Enough of 
this! Ye shall not go! [To the Chief Magician, with a side- 
glance at Aaron's rod.] He hath run out of tricks, and naught 
now but the sound of his own voice is there to hearten him! [In 
a loud voice.] Our audience is over! 



:t ii] children OF ISRAEL 55 

[There is a general movement, in the midst of which Ni- 
CORDION, the chief Egyptian Taskmaster, steps forward 
and flings himself before Pharaoh. 
NrcoRDiON. [Half choking.] Pardon, oh Pharaoh! 
Pharaoh. Nicordion! Ah, I remember! The brother of that 

.1 



good Taskmaster whom Moses slew- 

[There is a general movement, in which all eyes are turned 
toward Moses. Feeling the hostility, Thermuthis stif- 
fens, and turns to Pharaoh. 

Thermuthis. [In a low voice.] Thou recallest thy promise 
unto me? 

Pharaoh. [To Thermuthis.] That I would not exact the 
penalty for his deed? [As she silently bows.] Well, I have not! 
[He turns again to Nicordion.] Thou art he who when Moses 
returned from that mysterious errand in the land of Midian, and 
demanded that the slaves be freed, importuned me, for ven- 
geance' sake, to increase the burdens! Thou art he! 

Nicordion. I am that man, oh Pharaoh! 

Pharaoh. [Approvingly.] Ah! Thou art an useful overseer! 
He who extorteth the greatest labor from those under him is 
ever deserving of the greatest reward from his master, since it is 
as if he himself performed the toil! [Turning to the court for 
praise.] Is it not so? 

Nicordion. [Desperately, in the chorus of approval.] Thou 
sayest, oh Pharaoh! And now — now — for that reason, I beseech 
of thee, to let them go! 

Pharaoh. [Starting.] What? Art thou mad? Or dost thou 
make merry? [As he regards him.] Nay, but thy face is white! 
Explain thyself! 

Nicordion. [Trying to control himself.] That can I not do, 
oh Pharaoh, for I myself understand not! I know only that 
though at the first, when they went forth groaning to find their 
own straw, and turned against Moses their leader because they 
deemed their burdens the price of his pride, that I was lifted up. 
And the spectre of my dead brother whom Moses slew visited me 
no more as aforetime. And then — then — when Holy Nile became 

blood 

[He stops, his face convulsed, 

Pharaoh. [Coldly.] What aileth thee? 



56 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

NicoRDioN. [Wildly, as Miriam, unnoticed by all, enters si- 
lently, left.] Ah, how may I tell of it? I tasted thereof! I 
tasted thereof, on that first day! Before I knew — and it was 
blood! Blood! As it were the blood of the children of Israel 
whom I had killed with the lash at their labor! And now — ever 
I taste it! [Spitting frantically.] Nor can I spew it out of my 

mouth ! [As several crowd about him, trying to suppress 

him, he screams.] Let them go! I beseech thee, let them go! 

Pharaoh. [In cold anger to the ist and 2nd Guards.] Take 
him away! He is mad! 

[The 2ND Guard, who has tremblingly helped to subdue 
Nicordion, now suddenly lets go of him, and flings him- 
self before Pharaoh. 

2ND Guard. Mercy! Mercy! For my wife's sake, great 
Pharaoh ! 

Pharaoh. [Disgtistedly.] Art thou mad, too? 

2ND Guard. Nay, but she is! Of the crawling frogs — and I 
fear — oh, Pharaoh, I fear! Let them go! 

Pharaoh. Now is my court become a madhouse with such as 
ye about! [Angrily, to Epiphras.] Get them away! [As, led 
by Epiphras, fresh guards remove the offenders, Pharaoh con- 
tinues suavely, to the court.] We will stay yet awhile! We 
will not go upon the heels of such as they! [With a nod to the 
Musicians.] We will have music! And where is my dancing 
girl, even my fairest? Let some one fetch her! [Insolently, to 
MosES and Aaron as a guard goes out.] Ye may tarry here 
while ye find another conjuring-trick! But our audience is over! 

Chief Magician. [Tottering forward as the music begins.] 
Mercy, oh, Pharaoh! 

Pharaoh. [Sarcastically.] Ah, thou art recovered! Thou 
wouldst offer thy services with the rod! 

Chief Magician. [Solemnly.] Mock not, great Pharaoh! 
[Raising his rod before Pharaoh.] Thou seest? Thou know- 
est that with this I have ever served thee and thy fathers before 
thee? [As Pharaoh impatiently nods, his eyes on the beautiful 
girl who now enters, and takes her place, after an embrace, at his 
feet.] Then know that though my heart is true to thee, oh, King, 
and to the land of Egypt, I can do no more! 

[He breaks the rod in pieces. 



ACT ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 57 

Pharaoh. [Imperiously.] Enough! I care not! [He bends 
down and again embraces the girl.\ Ah, it is thou! Make me 
forget him! Make me forget them all! — Moses and Aaron and 
the plagues of Egypt! Dance, thou beauty — dance! Dance till 
I forget! 

[She rises softly, glides out upon the floor, and dances as if 

for him alo7ie. He leans forward, flushed as with her 

youth. 

Pharaoh. [As she falls, exhausted at his feet.] Who saith I 

am old? [Raising her.] Again! Again I [She is about to 

dance again when the Chief Magician, with a dignity born of 

his new despair, lays a restraining hand upon her arm. Pharaoh 

turns to him angrily.] How now, old man? Thou art in thy 

dotage, else 

Chief Magician, [Solemnly.] Hold, Pharaoh! A mightier 
than I is come! [Holding up the broken rod.] One who com- 
mandeth the stars in their courses, the moon in her tides, 

and 

[He breaks off, starting violently, as Miriam flits forward, 
her beautiful hair unbound, half dancing to the rhythm of 
the music. The girl crouches at Pharaoh's knee. 
Miriam. [Half chanting.] The sun! The sun! One who com- 
mandeth the sun, oh Chief of the Magicians! The bright Egyp- 
tian sun that is of thy god, oh, King [picking up the broken 
pieces of the Egyptian rod and waving them lightly before the 
staring eyes of Pharaoh], that is of thy god the sun, that is 

become a little thing before — before the shadow ! 

Pharaoh. [Hoarsely.] Who is that? She is like burning mar- 
ble? [Pushing the dancer from him.] Who may it be? [As he 
stares upon her.] How strange she is! 

Miriam. [Gliding with the wand to where Moses and Aaron 
stand, and waving it above her head.] He asked for a conjuring- 
trick, oh, Brother! So thus — thus — with thy rod! 

Pharaoh. [Under his breath.] It is but the witch-woman, his 
sister. 

[Aaron, half mesmerized, obeys Miriam, raising his rod in 
unison with that which she holds. 
Aaron. [In a low hypnotic voice.] In the name of the great 
I AM ! 



5S CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

Miriam. [Laughing softly, as the sun begins to dim.] Lo, 

what a little thing is a shadow ! 

Pharaoh. [Starting forward angrily.] Enough of this! [To 
the Musicians.] Why play ye not louder? Think ye not I have 
heard enough of Aaron's rod? 

1ST Musician. [Cringingly.] Pardon, great Pharaoh, we do 
not see the notes! Our eyes are troubled as it were by a shad- 
ow ! 

Pharaoh. [Frowning.] It is high noon! I marked a most 
sunny day as I drove hither from my pleasuance-garden ! Your 
eyes are sick! 

1ST Musician. Pardon, great Pharaoh, we will play a song to 
the sun! 

Miriam. [As, in ever deepening shadows, the music again be- 
gins.] Nay, then, that were for the children of Israel! For they 
shall have light in their dwellings! But thy song should be a 
song to the shadow — to the shadow that shall presently be dark- 
ness — over all the land of Egypt! 

Epiphras. [Entering hurriedly and kneeling before Pharaoh.] 
Pardon, great Pharaoh, — a message from the regents on thine out- 
posts! 

Pharaoh. [Leaning forward and taking the scroll.] I do not 
see! [Angrily to the Guards.] Ye have shut out the sun! Open 
the portals that I may read ! 

[As he sits, his eyes straining to read the scroll, the Guards 
rush to the portals and open them, a thicker darkness 
streaming into the throne-room. In sharp terror, sensing 
the gathering cmister nation of the court, Pharaoh looks 
up to see that save for the white faces about him, the only 
light in the room is about the persons of the three He- 
brews who stand watching him, their faces full of a silent 
exultation. 
Pharaoh. [Trying to speak naturally.] There must be a 
storm coming! 

Epiphras. [Kneeling before him.] It is not the season for 
storms, most mighty Pharaoh! 

Pharaoh. [Peevishly.] It must be a storm! [To himself.] 
Yet it was not the season for storms when the fiery hail de- 
scended ! 



ACT ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 59 

1ST Guard. [Who has looked out.] Pardon, most great Pha- 
raoh, but it is not a storm ! 

Pharaoh. I asked thee not! Of a certainty there is no storm, 
nor [his eyes on the Hebrews] nor is there darkness! Our eyes 
tire from much looking on the brightness of the sun! [To 
Epiphras.] See that the Guards bring torches! Often they do 
rest mine eyes from our mighty sun! 

Epiphras. [As the Guards go out.] If it be for the words of 
the scroll, most noble Pharaoh, I can tell thee, for there is haste, 
and the messenger told me he had learned the burden of the 
words by heart, they being not many! 

Pharaoh. Why learned he the scroll by heart? 

Epiphras. [Timidly.] Pardon, most mighty Pharaoh, — a 
shadow troubled his eyes as he drew near, and he told me he 
thought, — "If now peradventure a darkness should come, a thick 

darkness and the mighty Pharaoh could not read the words " 

so he learned them, knowing they were of grave import! 

Pharaoh. He took much upon himself! But doubtless they 
are messages of victory! Repeat them to us! 

Epiphras. [Haltingly, as the shadows deepen.] Pardon, most 
mighty Pharaoh — this is the message from the regents of thy 
provinces: ^'How long wilt thou be a snare unto us? Let the 
Hebrews go, that they may serve the Lord their God! Knowest 
thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?" 

[As Pharaoh, white with anger, starts up from the throne, 
there is a long, wailing scream from one of the women of 
the court, as the Guards return, bearing dimly flaring 
torches. 

Pharaoh. [Beside himself.] Who screamed? Let her be cast 
forth! And as for that message — it — it is a trick! [Kicking 
Epiphras.] Get ye gone! [Angrily, to the Guards, as Epi- 
phras, half stunned, stumbles away.] I told ye to bring hither 
torches! 

1ST ToRCHBEARER. [Tremblingly, nearing the throne.] Pardon, 
oh, Pharaoh! Here is the torch! 

Pharaoh. But unlighted! It shineth scarce a foot before thee! 
How darest thou to mock me? 

1ST Torchbearer. [As before.] Yet is it lighted, great 
Pharaoh! 



60 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act ii 

1ST Guard. Perchance if the light of the two were put together, 
oh mighty Pharaoh! 

Pharaoh. [Beckoning the 2nd Torchbearer.] Hither! Draw 
close about me! [^4^ they obey, he unwinds the scroll.] Now 
shall I read of victory! [As, by the wavering light, he makes out 
the message, he fiings it violently from him, shouting.] They lie! 

They lie! And in letters of fire ! They are all that I see in 

this reeling room, "Knowest thou not yet that Egypt is de- 
stroyed!" They lie, and they are all I see! They — and her 

witch's face ! 

Moses. [Stepping forward, the pool of light in which he stands 
widening as he moves.] Pharaoh, let the people go! If not upon 
thyself, yet upon thy land have pity! 

Thermuthis. [Falling upon her knees before Pharaoh.] For 
the sake of Egypt, oh Pharaoh, let the people go ! 

[As, following her example, several of the courtiers and 

guards fall upon their knees with cries of "Mighty 

Pharaoh! Let the people go!" "Merciful Pharaoh, let 

them worship the Lord their God!'* the darkness lifts 

slightly. Perceiving it, Pharaoh breaks into a shout of 

cynical victory. 

Pharaoh. Fie now! Out upon ye for cowardly traitors! It is 

lifting! The darkness departs! Never was there a darkness, and 

never, by all the gods of Egj/pt, shall I let the people go! 

[There is a moment of vibrant silence, into which, thicker 
than before, the darkness sweeps, engulfing all but the three 
Hebrews. Again there comes the weird scream, but before 
Pharaoh caii finish his violent "Away with her! She is 
mad!'' Miriam flits forward, more beautiful than before. 
MmiAM. [Chanting, in low, rising passion.] She is not mad, oh 

Pharaoh! She sees! She sees! That which must befall ! 

[As another cry ititerrupts her.] And another seeth — another — 
a woman with a babe! For thou art right, oh Pharaoh, yet is 
not Egypt destroyed! But it shall be! It shall be! 

Pharaoh. [In shivering fear.] Lights! Lights! Hold her — • 

that terrible witch ! It is she that bringeth these forms that 

I see — that I do not see! Lights! Hold her! Lo, it is a thick 
darkness, none like it saw I ever before — it is a darkness which 
may be felt! [As Guards try to seize her, at his command. 



ACT ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 61 

Miriam eludes them in the shifting light.] Make her to cease! 
Ah, ye cannot find her — she is not there — only the forms are 
there — the terrible forms — ah, bind her, seize her! 

Moses. [Gently to Miriam.] Peace — our Sister! Perchance 
he will now repent! 

Aaron. [Sombrely.] Aye, he repenteth, ever after to sin again! 
Moses. Shall the people go, oh Pharaoh, if God will remove the 
thick darkness? 

Pharaoh. [Between his chattering teeth.] The people shall 
not go! 

MiRiAJvi. [In sombre triumph.] Then a child ! A child 

and a babe! And a young man and a maiden! From the first- 
born of the captive in his dungeon to the first-born of him which 
sitteth upon his throne! Death! Death! Over all the land of 
Egypt! Death! 

Pharaoh. [Staggering down from the throne and attempting 
to seize Miriam.] Out! Out! Get ye from my presence! [As 
he cannot find Miriam, between set teeth.] Yet shall I pay thee 
for this! [Then, violently, to Moses and Aaron.] Get ye gone! 
Let me see thy face no more! 

[There is a confusion of stumbling feet and terrified voices, 
as the court, in the almost utter blackness, tries to hide it- 
self, the dancing girl still clinging to Pharaoh, long heed- 
less of her. From the three Hebrews, now standing to- 
gether near the door, left, comes the voice of Moses, 
charged with triumph. 
Moses. Thou hast spoken well, oh Pharaoh! We will see thy 
face no more until we go unto the Promised Land! 



CURTAIN 



ACT III 

Place: The House of Moses. 

Time: Evening of the Passover. Between Acts II and III four 
days have passed. 

Scene: The curtain rises on a large room furnished in the ancient 
simplicity of the Hebrews, There are doors to left and right. 
The door right gives on the street; that on the left opens into 
an inner room, in which, when the door is fully open, another 
and smaller door can be made out to rear. This also leads 
outdoors. At rear near a window is a large open fireplace 
divided into two parts, of which one holds a cauldron filled 
with water. The other part, though a fire may be seen glow- 
ing from beneath, is empty. Rush mats are scattered at in- 
tervals about the floor, and a table stands somewhat to centre. 
Upon it is a lighted brazier which softly illumines a confusion 
of gold and silver ornaments, flung about, as in haste. 

There is a moment of silence; then Moses' little boy, Eleasar, 
comes running in, right. At sight of the booty, he stops 
short, and begins to finger it with keen delight. 

Eleasar. [Gloatingly.] INIy, didn't she get a lot? [Picking up 
a large silver plate, he calls.] Gershom! I say, Gershom, come 
here! [Hefting the plate.] Whew, it's heavy! It must weigh 

ten omers! [Calling.] Ger — shom ! 

[There is a patter of feet and Gershom, a handsome child, 
slightly older than his brother, enters, right. About both 
there is an air of pleased excitement. 
Gershom. What is it? Is it about the lamb? Hath Uncle 

Aaron brought it? [As he sees the booty.] Oo ! 

Eleasar. [His eyes sparkling.] Yea! Mother got them from 
the Egyptians! 

Gershom. [Letting the silver run through his fingers. \ 

My ! Are not they beautiful! 

Eleasar. [Reflectively.] They must be worth an awful lot! I 
wish they were mine! 

62 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 63 

Gershom. [Indifferently, in his sheer delight at their beauty.] 
What wouldst thou do? 

Eleasar. Sell 'em! 

Gershom. But why? If they were sold, then couldst thou not 
touch them, and see how they twinkle in the firelight! 

Eleasar. [Stoutly.] I wish they were mine! I'd sell 'em! 

Gershom. If they were mine, I should dedicate them unto the 
Lord! Then might Pharaoh let us go! 

Eleasar. We're going anyway! Father said so! Almost any 
time, now! [Pulling up a silver cup.] Feel how heavy! I bet 
that would bring a lot! 

Gershom. [Excitedly snatching it jrom him.] A cup! A silver 
cup! Oh, Eleasar, dost thou know what I deem that to be? 

Eleasar. Yes, I have eyes and but now thou saidst it, — a cup! 

Gershom. [As before.] Nay, but what cup? Oh, guess, quick, 
quick! 

Eleasar. [Indifferently.] Oh, ask Aunt Miriam! Thou know- 
est I am no hand at guessing! 

Gershom. [Dancing about, the cup in his hand.] Nay, but 
'twas ours from of old! Ours, the children of Israel's! I feel it! 
I feel it! 

Eleasar. Oh, do stop jumping about! Of a surety it is all ours 
— what we spoil ! Uncle Aaron said so, seeing the Egyptians have 
paid us naught in wages for three hundred years! That would 
bring a lot more than all this [with a gesture toward the table] — 
reckoned in silver and gold! 

Gershom. I mean not that! [Turning the cup lovingly in his 
hand.] This hath a story! Father hath told us the story often! 
Oh, I would he were here! 

Eleasar. He will come soon! Thou knowest he searcheth for 
the burial-place of Joseph ! 

Gershom. But that is just it! That is what I would tell thee! 
[Coming close to his brother, holding up the cup; he speaks in a 
thrilled whisper.] Brother, dost thou not see? Look at the mark- 
ings! Why, 'tis the cup Joseph himself put in the sack of little 
Benjamin, all those long, long days ago, and as he guided his 
brothers to it, before revealing himself to them, so perchance to- 
night 

[He stops at a quick knock on the door, left, and Eleasar, 



64 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act hi 

bored with the recital, runs to open it. There is a hush, 
then Dathan, the Hebrew slave, enters furtively. Seeing 
only the two little boys, however, he makes a show of 
courage. 

Dathan. [Looking from one to the other.] Is thy mother Zip- 
porah here? 

Gershom. Yea, she is inside, lying upon her bed! She hath 
been from home all day, getting that [with a proud gesture] and 
she's awful tired! 

Eleasar. But she's awful pleased! Are not they rich and beau- 
tiful? How much has thy wife got? 

Dathan. [With swift anger.] My wife? What meanest thou? 
[Suspiciously.] Who told thee I had a wife? [Sneeringly.] Per- 
chance 'twas Miriam, the all-seeing sister of Moses! 

Eleasar. No, 'twas not Aunt Miriam! 'Twas Mother I heard 
talking yesterday with the Egyptian messenger! She stopped 
when I came near! [Backing away.] But why art thou dis- 
pleased with me? 

Dathan. [Abruptly.] Zipporah thy mother hath sent for me! 
Tell her I wait, and time passeth ! 

[Eleasar goes out, right, and Gershom approaches the 
slave. 

Gershom. [Eagerly.] Hast thou seen the killing of the lambs? 
I wished greatly to go, but when it drew nigh the time, I remem- 
bered how one of them had been my pet, and I could not bear to 
see it killed! 

Dathan. [Contemptuously.] And thou a son of Moses! Fie, 
that he who killed Batinas the great Taskmaster should beget a 
son that could not stomach the slaying of a lamb! 

Gershom. [Puzzled and embarrassed.] I know it was fool- 
ish ! Pray tell not my father! 

Dathan. Nay, I shall not! Neither that nor aught else shall 
I tell Moses thy father ! 

Gershom. [Curiously.] Why dost thou look so bitterly when 
thou speakest of him? Did not that deed whereof he oft hath 
told me deliver thee from a cruel oppressor? 

Dathan. The deed he did? [Very bitterly.] Yea, and if it 
were cast in my teeth these ten years by Shelomith my wife that 
it was not I who had killed Batinas! 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 65 

Gershom. [Puzzled.] But why thou, rather than my father? 
We are Hebrews no less than thou, and hate the oppressor! IMy 
father was glad to kill him! Why should thy wife exact it of thee? 
Dathan. My wife? Ah, because she is my wife, in vengeance, 
in vengeance! [As the child gazes at him with clear eyes.] Pah, 
thou art a child! Thou understandest naught! [Bitterly.] 
Thou thinkest I should thank him! Thank Moses thy father, 
when all he hath given me is a bondage more bitter than before, 
and a wife that scorns the very ground my feet tread! And thine 
Aunt that bade me rejoice! Thine Aunt that is drunk with lib- 
erty! Ah, how I hate them all! She and he and thine accursed 
house! 

Gershom. [Drawmg himself up.] I think that is no way to 

speak of m\' family! ]My mother will 

Dathan. [Significa7itly.] I have said naught against thy 
mother! She is not like the rest! 

[The door right opens, and Zippoilah .enters, followed by 
Eleasar. She is a sumptuously beautiful woman, richly 
and indiscriminately decked in jewels, a gorgeous Egyptian 
mantle dragging from her arm. With a gesture, as of clear- 
ing away the children who retire somewhat cowed into a 
corner, she goes to Dathan, gathering up a handful of gold 
as she passes the fable, and pressing it into his hands with a 
defiance somehow touched with servility. 
Zippok^h. [Softly.] Hush! Xot a word! Aaron returnethl 
I saw him but now from the ^vindow, and was half minded not to 

speak with thee! Hence ! Make haste! 

Dathan. [Whi?jingly letting the gold slip through his fingers.] 

And is this all? When it hath cost thee naught ? 

Z1PP0R.AH. [Indignantly.] Cost me naught? When I have been 
out all day calling at ever>^ house this side the river, until I am 
so weary I could scarce prepare the herbs and unleavened bread 

for to-night ! 

Dathan. [hi a low voice.] Thou art a strange woman, Zip- 
porah! Preparing for the Passover, and conspiring against thy 
husband at even the same moment ! 

ZiPPORAH. [Darting a look at the children, who are playing 

with the booty.] Sh ! How darest thou? 

Dathan. How darest thou? I have naught to lose ! 



66 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act hi 

ZippoRAH. Be not a fool! Thou lovest the wilderness no more 
than I! And if thou art released from thy burdens here 

Dathan. [In a whisper.] Hast thou it yet? 

ZipPORAH. [With a warning gesture.] Nay! Aaron hath it 
with him! But I shall have it when there is need thereof. 

Dathan. [Regarding her.] It seems Moses and Dathan are 
alike unfortunate in their choice of wives ! 

ZippoRAH. [Haughtily.] Begone at once to the Palace, or 



Dathan. [Watching her.] Or what? Knowest thou not yet 
thou art in my power? Remember 'tis not I alone who 
know thy perfidy — 'tis Epiphras, also, — if not a greater than he! 

— and 

ZippoRAH. [Frantically.] Hush! And begone! 
Dathan. [As bejore.] Yea, and though my hatred of Moses 
thy husband is passing bitter, so that I would what thou wouldst, 
Zipporah, if only to hurt him, yet shall I get my price from thee! 
[Suddenly savage.] Make haste! I want gold! 

Zipporah. [Sullenly, her greed struggling with her fear.] More 
gold? For what? Thou canst not use so much! 

Dathan. What is that to thee? [Suddenly he bursts into hys- 
terical tears.] Gold! Give me more gold! Or I go not to 
Pharaoh ! 

[After a quick look, Zipporah hurries out of the room, left, 

returning almost at once, her hands overflowing with jewels 

and fresh gold, which she presses into his trembling hands. 

Zipporah. [Contemptuously.] Is that enough? 

Dathan. [In hysterical laughter.] Yea! Now perchance she 

will look upon me to-night — Shelomith, my wife! 

[With bent head he rushes out, left, not pausing to greet 
Aaron who presently enters, bearing aloft in his arms a 
freshly killed lamb. There is about him an air of solemn 
exultation, at sharp variance with the flushed excitement of 
Zipporah who is nervously toying with the booty. At the 
sound of his step, she wheels abruptly about. The children 
run toward him, stopping quickly, as he speaks. 
Aaron. [Holding high the lamb.] Behold, woman, and let the 
eyes of the children of Moses behold, — the Paschal Lamb! 

Zipporah. [Officiously coming forward.] I have the water for 
the fleecing! All that thou biddest me I have performed! 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 67 

Aaron. [Preoccupied with the scene he has gone through.] It 
is well! 

[Halj reluctantly, he is about to give it to her, when the door 
left again opens, and Miriam enters. At sight of the lamb, 
her face kindles, and she stands rooted upon the thresh- 
old, with bated breath and outstretched, yearning arms. 

Miriam. [Raptly.] The lamb ! 

ZippoRAH. [Crossly.] Yea, the lamb! And what should there 
be surprising to thee in that? 

Gershom. [Going to Miriam a7td gently taking her hand.] 
Why, Aunt Miriam, what aileth thee? Said not Father so, that 
we should hold the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first 
month? 

Eleasar. And this is that day and that month! 

Zipporah. [Under her breath.] Much hath she done to help 
me prepare ! 

Aaron. [To Zipporah, softly, looking at Miriam.] Peace ! 

Miriam. [As before.] The lamb ! 

Aaron. [Kindly, to Miriam.] Is there sickness coming upon 
thee, Sister, that thou lookest so? I marked thine eyes how they 
followed me, out of all the congregation! Is it a fever which 
Cometh upon thee that they shine thus like stars? 

Miriam. [Moving slightly forward.] Then it is true ! 

Aaron. What, Miriam? What is true? [Turning to Zip- 
porah.] I would Moses were here! Oft he is of comfort to her 
when she is as now! [Rousing himself.] Here — take the lamb, 
Zipporah, and put it in the cauldron, that I may the easier 
fleece it! 

Miriam. [Searchingly interposing as Zipporah is about to take 
the lamb from Aaron.] And thine hands, Zipporah? Are they 
clean to touch the lamb? 

Zipporah. [Starting.] What meanest thou? [Stammering and 
drawing back after a glance into Miriam's eyes.] They are too 
clean! He still drippeth blood! 

Aaron. [Sensing the clash between the two.] I will put the 
lamb into the water myself! There is little time, and the mark 
is not yet made upon the door! 

Miriam. Ah ! The mark upon the door! It was to be in 

blood, was it not, oh, Aaron? 



68 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act hi 

Aaron. [Pointing to the small bason he holds.] Yea, in the 
blood of the lambs we have but now killed ! Each man is making 
the sign to-night upon the lintel and upon the two side posts of 
the house wherein they shall eat the Passover ! 

Miriam. [Sojtly.\ May a woman make the mark, oh Aaron? 

Aaron. [Uncertainly.] Thou hast ever been faithful, Miriam! 
And Moses is not yet returned! He went out again to hearten 
the people and seek the burial-place after the killing of the lambs! 
And I have much upon my mind! — If therefore thou dost wish to 
make the mark 

Zipporah. [Angrily, as Miriam takes the bason.] So thou giv- 
est it to her to do, who hath not so much as adorned herself? 
Why not me, oh, Aaron? I who have spoiled the Egyptians the 
whole day that I might be passing beautiful to-night! 

Miriam. [Giving her a look.] Beautiful for the eyes of the 
Angel of Death, Zipporah? 

Aaron. [As Zipporah turns quickly away.] Hast thou the 
bunch of hyssop? 

Miriam. [Drawing it slowly from her dress.] Here ! 

Aaron. How didst thou know? 

Miriam. I hoped! 

Aaron. [Solemnly.] Now dip the hyssop in the blood of the 
lamb! 

[She obeys, the two children, and momentarily even Zip- 
porah, looking on awed and still as the hyssop gleams scar- 
let. 

Miriam. [With a deep breath.] It is done! [As she turns to 
go out, left.] Oh, Aaron, all my life I have hoped, and to- 
night [holding up the hyssop] — to-night I believe! 

[She goes out, left, and Aaron busies himself with the fleec- 
ing of the lamb in the rear of the room; the children stand 
tensely, looking from Aaron to the door whence Miriam 
has gone out. Zipporah stands silent, frowning. 

Eleasar. [Softly to Gershom.] I wonder, are the Egyptians 
very much frightened? 

Gershom. [In low tones.] Yea, Father saith they fear greatly, 
since it is known of all that he hath refused to go again to 
Pharaoh ! 

Eleasar. Well, in the plague of the thick darkness, Pha- 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 69 

raoh commanded him and Uncle Aaron never to trouble him 
again! 

Gershom, Yea, but now Pharaoh feareth even more, death 
being more fearsome than even the thick darkness! 

Eleasar. I think the thick darkness would be worse than 
death! Why, Gershom, even ordinary darkness is frightening, — 
though I am not afraid when Father holdeth mine hand! [In an 

excited whisper.] Gershom ! Dost thou know, I saw the 

child of the 2nd Guard this morning, and he told me his mother 
desired greatly to send him over to our house to-night ! 

Gershom. So he'd be safe ? That would be well ! I heard 

Father say his father sorely displeased Pharaoh in the last audi- 
ence! 

Eleasar. Lots of the Egyptians are going back on him! 

Gershom. Father saith Pharaoh warreth against God! 

ZippoRAH. [Irritably, having caught the last words. ] And hast 
thou naught to do but play the eavesdropper? 

Gershom. Nay, Mother, it was not eavesdropping! My father 
wished me to hear ! He was not angry, as thou wert when Eleasar 
saw thee speaking with Epiphras the Egyptian! 

Zipporah. [Starting violently.'] So thou dost contradict thy 
mother! [Boxing his ear.] Let that learn thee! 

Aaron. [Turning with displeasure.] Hush! Is not all this 
amiss? On such a night as this, — ^yea, a night to be remembered 
as a memorial from generation to generation? 

Zipporah. [Sullenly.] And thou, an Hebrew, taketh the part 
of a child against his parent? 

Aaron. [Calmly.] I take no part, woman! But it is right for 
a son to hearken to his father, as little Gershom to Moses! [With 
a sigh.] I would mine own sons hearkened more to me! [Then, 
rousing himself.] But where is Miriam? Why does she not re- 
turn? 

[Gershom goes to the door right, and opens it, revealing 
Miriam standing on the threshold, a look of mingled exul- 
tation, wonder and pity on her face. She enters, closing 
the door behind her. 

Aaron. It waxeth late, Miriam! Thou hast made the mark? 

Miriam. [Her eyes far away.] Yea, — upon the lintel, and upon 
the two side posts! 



70 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act hi 

ZrppoRAH. [With a shiver of distaste, pointing to the drenched 
hyssop.] Wilt thou wash? 

Miriam. [Looking at her hands dreamily, as she sets down the 
hyssop.] Why, Zipporah? I think my hands never felt so clean 
as now! [Turning slowly to Aaron.] I do not understand, 
Brother! It is as if they had been washed in the blood of the 
lamb, and were clean forevermore! 

Aaron. What thou hast done was done as to the Lord! [He 
turns to the hearth.] And now that the fleecing is accomplished 
[raising the lamb], I put the lamb upon the spit to be roasted with 
fire, and unleavened bread, and with bitter herbs! 

[Zipporah, busied near the hearth, is handing the bread and 
herbs to him, and he is putting it upon the fire when the 
door right again opens and Moses enters. Like Miriam's, 
his manner is one of repressed exultation, but, except at 
rare moments, it is practical, rather than mystical, as of 
one increasingly, though calmly aware of the responsibili- 
ties of his great leadership. Perceiving the employment of 
Aaron, he stands waiting. 
Aaron. [Beckoning Moses to him.] Come hither, Moses! 

Moses. [Slowly approaching.] The Paschal Lamb ! 

Aaron. Yea, Moses! The fleecing is done, the unleavened 
bread, and the herbs and the fire are prepared. It wants but 
thy hand to be roasted with fire! 

Moses. [With a great cry, raising the lamb, as the others as- 
sum.e attitudes of reverence.] Unto thee, oh Jehovah! Unto Thee, 
this sacrifice of the Children of Israel! 

[There is a moment of awed stillness, during which Moses 
places the Passover upon the fire. Then, silently greeting 
the others, he turns to Aaron. 
MosES. And the mark, Aaron, upon the door? How came it 
into thy mind to make it thus? 

Aaron. What meanest thou? I have not seen the mark! 
Zipporah. [Officiously.] Perchance IVIiriam, thine all-holy sis- 
ter, could tell thee! She took it upon herself to make the mark! 
Moses. [Flushing and turning to Miriam.] So it was 

thou ! 

Miriam. Yea — I! What is wrong with the mark, Moses? 
Moses. [Slowly.] I do not know that aught is wrong there- 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 71 

with! When the Lord spake unto me, He said only, ^'Strike the 
lintel and the two side posts with the blood!" 

[He stops, remembering. 

Miriam. That did I do! 

Gershom. [Nestling against Moses.] What is the mark, 
Father? May I run out and see? 

Moses. [Pressing him close.] Nay, child! Lest the Angel of 
Death should snatch thee from mine arms! [Turning to the 
others ] None shall leave the house this night, save Aaron and 
myself [Then, to Miriam.] Thou knowest I was hastening 
home, after my search after the killing of the lambs, for the bones 
of Joseph, our forefather 

ZiPPORAH. [Skeptically.] Well, hast thou found them? 

Moses. [Patiently.] Peace, woman! Nay, not yet, but the 
Lord will show them me! Did the children of Israel not straitly 
swear unto Him to carry them hence at the going forth? [He 
turns again to Miriam.] My mind was full of thoughts of Israel, 
and the confusion which this night cometh upon the mighty 

Pharaoh 

ZiPPORAH It passeth my reason how thou canst be so sure ! 

Moses [More sternly.] Have I not told thee— peace? [Agatn, 
to Miriam.] And then, as I came near, I saw the mark upon the 
door— thy mark, oh, Miriam! And my heart was exalted! It was 
as if I felt His glory all about me, as when the Bush burned and 
I heard His voice! But to-night I heard nothing— only I felt 
the glory! And something else I felt [as ij seeking for words]— 
something I understood not! . , , , • i 

Miriam. [Softly.] Thou, too? [Then, with sudden passion.] 
Ah Brother, what was it which came to me there, teachmg me 
to make the mark? I stood so still, the stars so quiet above me, 
and Nile swift-flowing in the darkness, and over yonder the 
mighty tombs of the helpless dead, and I thought, as thou, of the 
Children of Israel, and of our Passover this night, and of the 
lamb whose blood shone red upon the hyssop in mme hand, and 
then [raising her hand, and with her fingers tracing a cross]— then 

I made the mark— thus ! , , ,l 

[She repeats the mark of the cross. 

Moses. A cross! , , . , t k a -, «roc 

Miriam. Yea, a cross! [Continuing haltingly.] And it was 



72 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act hi 

then for a moment a strange sense seized me — I scarce know the 
name therefor — as it were pity or compassion, such as I felt a 
while agone when little Gershom lay sick of a fever, and I would 
have died myself might I have borne his pain! 

Moses. [Gently.] I remember, Miriam ! 

Miriam. But this, to-night — it was not like that compassion 
for him, or any child, or any weak thing. Nor was it like that 
pity I felt for the Princess Thermuthis, that day of the audience, 
when she spake to me of death ! This to-night was different, and 
it is this which I do not understand, and thou perchance wilt 

think me traitorous for thinking it even for a moment ? 

Moses. [As before.] Nay, Sister! Tell me! 
Miriam. [W onderingly .] It was compassion for Pharaoh [very 
low, as if confessing a sin] — compassion for mine enemies! 

Aaron. [Starting forward.] Nay, Miriam, it is not possible! 
Pharaoh is not thine enemy only — he is the enemy of the Children 
of Israel! 

Moses. Thou art mistaken, Sister! Thou didst not feel com- 
passion for Pharaoh! Pharaoh is the enemy of Jehovah ! 

Miriam. I do not know, Moses, of a truth! I hate him as 
ever, of a child! But I did feel compassion, for that one moment! 
And though it seemeth to have been sin as ye both speak thereof 
now, yet while I felt it, it was not like sin, but like something 

so beautiful [Turning to Moses, her voice breaking.] Oh, 

Moses, so full of beauty and peace! 

ZippoRAH. [Bursting into shrill laughter.] Hear the holy 
woman! The prophetess of the Children of Israel! Loving her 
enemies! 

Moses. [To Zipporah, embarrassed and stern.] Have I not 
told thee peace? It is not so! 

ZippoRAH. [Violently.] Yea, thou hast told me! But doth 
that make it true? Have I not heard her with mine own ears? 
[Continuing shrilly, before he can stop her.] Oh, thou hast told 
me much, Moses, in the ten years thou hast had me for thy wife, 
ever loving and anxious to serve thee! Hanging on thine every 

whim! And look at thy reward 1 Bringing me into a foreign 

exile, out from my father's home, and the happy laughter at the 
fountain and the ever-courteous shepherd-youths! And then, the 
moment I begin to grow used thereto, driving me hence, me, thy 



ACT 



III] CHILDREN or ISRAEL 73 



wife, like so much cattle, out of my home into the untrodden 
desert ! 

Moses. [Sternly, as Aaron goes out, right, his lips compressed.] 
If thou art without proper pride for thyself, wilt thou blast the 
ears of my children [motioning them quickly to the door, left, 
whence they go out, frightened] — with such blasphemy on the 
night of the Liberation? 

ZiPPORAH. [Irrepressibly.] Liberation from what? I see 
naught wrong with the land of Egypt, save the plagues brought 
upon it by thy brother's rod! And even so, they do not disturb 
me greatly! And now that at least I have raiment and jewels fit- 
ting to my beauty [for a moment she pauses, looking venomously 
at Miriam who has stood silent, from one to the other; then she 
continues, self-righteously] — for I at least, low and worthless as 

thou deemest me, oh Moses, / have adorned myself! Behold ! 

[She turns slowly before him in her gaudy finery; then, as she 
sees she has failed to excite him, she continues angrily.] Yet thou 
darest to speak to me of blasphemy! To me, Zipporah! And 
look at her! [With infinite scorn.] Look at Miriam, thy sister! 

Moses. [Turning to Miriam.] What meaneth she? 

Miriam. [Quietly.] That I have not adorned myself, Moses! 

Zipporah. [Eagerly.] There! Thou hearest? And look at 

me ! [Again she preens herself before his calm eyes.] All 

day I have fulfilled the command! All day I have spoiled the 
Egyptians! And then, worn and weary as I am with my spoiling 
and with preparing thy holy feast, I have adorned myself! 
[Stamping her foot.] Speak! Have I not? 

MosES. [Hastily, after an indifferent glance.] Yea, yea, Zip- 
porah! Thou hast adorned thyself! [Then, turning troubled eyes 
to Miriam.] And thou, Sister? Didst thou not hear the com- 
mand? Why hast thou not spoiled the Egyptians? 

Miriam. [With low distinctness.] I have spoiled the Egyptians, 
oh, Moses! 

Zipporah. [Shrilly.] Shelieth! Believe her not! She weareth 
not so much as a bracelet upon her arm ! 

MosES. What hast thou to say? 

Miriam. Thou knowest. Brother, there was no command to 
adorn? [As he bows, she continues, quickly, before he can in- 
terrupt her.] But I knew thou and Aaron wished it! That the 



74 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act m 

Children of Israel understood it so! Only — oh, Moses, the time 
to adorn was the night to go forth! 

Moses. Yea, Miriam! The fourteenth day of the first month, 
at even! Lo [pointing to the hearth] — our Passover which is pre- 
paring! And hast thou forgotten the mark upon the door? 

Miriam. [Clasping her hands, tensely.] Nay, Brother 1 

Ah, be not vexed with me ! [As Moses stands watching 

Miriam, Zipporah, with a stealthy gesture, snatches up Aaron's 
rod, which has been lying upon the table, since his entrance in 
the first part of the act, and, first toying with it, until she has made 
sure they are too absorbed to notice her, hides it swiftly in her 

bosom.] Be not vexed with me! But it is so mighty a deed ! 

[Pressing her hand to her throat, as if to still its clamorous throb- 
bing.] This going out, out of the House of Bondage! And my 
body is so poor a thing to praise Jehovah! It is with my heart 
I praise Him, not this poor body of mine! I could not put on the 
jewels, as she [pointing to Zipporah, who is making a pretense 
of listening to her] — I was not beautiful enough! I wished to be 
straight and tall, like a young cedar, my skin soft and smooth 
as thine, oh. Brother, as a little babe, in thine ark long ago, upon 
Nile, my hair fragrant with holy spices, mine eyes bright with the 
glory I have seen within! Oh, and it was more! [Very low.] 
1 wished to be young to-night, to adorn myself as a bride for her 
bridegroom ! 

Zipporah. [Boisterously.] That were an adornment indeed! 

Miriam. [With quick anger.] Yea, Zipporah! [Going to the 
door, left.] It were! 

[Miriam goes out, leaving Moses and Zipporah alone. 
Troubled, he turns to her at once. 

Moses. How often I have told thee not to anger her! Know- 
est thou not she is unlike other women? 

Zipporah. [Sullenly.] Yea, I know that! It needeth not the 
months of my life in Egypt to learn so much! [Contemptuously .] 

Yet she is not so unlike as thou thinkest ! If she had but 

been wed ! But she is dark! [Touching her fair hair com- 
placently.] Doubtless no man would have her! 

MosES. [Embarrassed.] Yet I remember as a young child, 
long years ago, when she was a maid, Pharaoh thought her beau- 
tiful! 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 75 

ZiPPORAH. [Sarcastically.] That would have been a fine couple, 
would it not? — Pharaoh and thy sister, Miriam! 

Moses. [With distaste.] It is not matter for jesting! 

ZiPPORAH. [Struck by a thought.] I jest not! I see naught 
strange in the mating of an Hebrew and an Egyptian! 

Moses. [Sternly.] 1 do! 

ZiPPORAH. [Regarding him with a smile.] Yet I heard the 
gossip when I came here first, how that thou hadst almost wed 
the Princess Thermuthis ere thou didst go to Midian! 

Moses. [Coloring.] It is but talk! Regard it not! 

ZiPPORAH. [Coming closer, trying to caress him.] Nay, but 
Zipporah can understand how she would love thee! Thou wert 
but a boy, then, no zealot as now! Of a surety the Princess would 
love thee! 

Moses. [Restively.] I tell thee it is not true! Thermuthis 
loved me not! 

ZiPPORAH. [Pressing closer.] Nor would I be angry with thee, 
seeing I have not the jealous disposition of some, nor the narrow 
barriers of race of others [pausing for a significant glance] — if 
even now, Moses, thou didst take her, along with me ! 

Moses. [Breaking violently away, in stupefaction.] Take 
who ? Of whom art thou jesting? 

ZiPPORAH. [Sullenly.] I tell thee I jest not! Ne'er was I in 
greater earnest! And I know she would love thee! Indeed 
[looking at him with a smile abhorrent to him], I think she will 
die if thou dost not soon have pity on her! 

Moses. [Striving for self-control.] I tell thee, Zipporah, thy 
jests are ill-timed! Nor know I yet, nor wish to know, of whom 
thou dost jest ! 

ZiPPORAH. Of Thermuthis! [Quickly, before he can stop her.] 

Nay, let me speak [Trying to draw him to her.] Think not 

of me in this! 

Moses. [Bitterly.] I do not! 

ZiPPORAH. [Growing angry.] No, thou art right, there! For 
never, since the day thou didst blow kisses to my visage reflected 
there in the sparkling water of our fountain in the land of Midian, 
and didst take me to thy wife, never since hast thou bestowed on 
me the favor of a passing moment! And now, on top of all, when 
I have ever been a faithful wife, nor let mine eyes stray one day 



76 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act hi 

toward those kind youths who would have held me dear if thou 
hadst not come wandering with thy vision on Horeb, now, when 
to save thee the terrors of the very wilderness, I give thee leave 
to wed another, that thou and all of us may continue to dwell 
here in something of security and peace [bursting into violent 
tears] J now, now, thou dost berate me with looks more stern and 
angry than the darkling sky to Pharaoh on that day of thick dark- 
ness I 

Moses. [With clenched hands.] I have tried to school mine 
anger! I have tried to be meek! But 

ZiPPORAH. [Furiously.] Meek? Meek! And who asked thee 
to be meek? Surely not I! 

MosES. [Turning from her.] No, not thou, Zipporah! Some- 
thing thou couldst not understand ! [In alow voice.] Mine own 
heart schooling me, after mine hands had slain ! 

Zipporah. [Annoyed.] And what hath that to do with me? 

Moses. Naught! 

Zipporah. [Bitterly.] Just so! And naught in thy mind, since 
that first day beside the fountain, hath ever had to do with me! 

Moses. [With effort.] I am thy husband! 

Zipporah. [Tearfully.] Thou dost not love me! 

Moses. [Trying to be convincing.] Yea, Zipporah, I love thee! 
Hath not Jehovah 

Zipporah. [Sobbing, suddenly flinging her arms about his 
neck.] Then prove it to me! 

MosES. [Soothingly, trying to disengage himself.] Hush, Zip- 
porah! Thou art not well! The preparations have been too much 
for thee! 

Zipporah. [With hysterical laughter.] Yea, the preparations 
have been too much for me! 

MosES. Then go and rest awhile! I will go out a little, and 
look again for Joseph. Rest thyself ere the Passover! It will be a 
hard night for thee! 

Zipporah. [Ensconcing herself more firmly in his arms.] Nay, 
nay, go not! [As she feels him trying to draw away from her.] 
Leave me not, Moses! Leave me not! [Very low.] Oh, Moses, 
thou dost not love me! 

MosES. [Mildly.] Surely I love thee! 

Zipporah. [Trying another tack.] Have I not borne thee sons? 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 77 

Moses. [With some impatience.] Yea, Zipporah! 

ZiPPORAH. And thou lovest little Gershom? 

Moses. Yea, for the Lord gave him me when I was a stranger 
in a strange land! 

Zipporah. Thou wouldst not that harm should come to him? 

Moses. How canst thou ask? Neither to him nor Eleasar, nor 
thee, Zipporah ! 

Zipporah. [Fiercely.] Then go not out of Egypt ! 

Moses. [Patiently.] I must go forth, Zipporah! [With de- 
cision, as he regards her.] Thou art sick! 

Zipporah. [Violently.] Yea, and sicker shall I be in the wilder- 
ness, away from all I have loved! Yea, I and Eleasar and thy 
little Gershom, sick unto death! 

Moses. [Rising, outdone.] Woman! Dost thou not know we 
eat the Passover this night, and go hence out of Egypt, out of 
the house of bondage, by the hand of the Lord God? 

Zipporah. Oh, I would I were wed to a man / What is 

the Lord God to me? 

Moses. [Striding toward the door.] Such blasphemy ! 

But I do not hear thee! Thou art mad! The marriage of Miriam 
my sister with Pharaoh! Of Thermuthis with myself! [Looking 
keenly at her.] Yea, thou art mad! 

Zipporah. [Scornjully.] Perchance I have caught it from thy 
sister ! 

MosES. [Sternly.] Nay, Miriam — if she be mad — is mad with 

God! This is other ! But perchance it will pass, and I will 

not hearken. I have too much to do ! 

Zipporah. [Tempestuously.] And I too have much to do! 
[Threateningly.] Yea, and thou canst take upon thyself what 
I do! 

MosES. [Starting.] What meanest thou? 

Zipporah. [As before.] Thou wilt not stay in Egypt, even if 

Pharaoh [Catching herself up.] Thou wilt not stay? Thou 

art sure ? 

Moses. I will not stay! 

Zipporah. Even if he begged thee [falling upon her knees]-^ 
as I — upon his bended knees ? 

Moses. [Pulling her to her feet.] Thou art mad, Zipporah! — 
or an evil woman! I am done! 



78 CHILDREN Or ISRAEL [act m 

[He goes out, right, shutting the door with emphasis behind 
him. Left alone, Zipporah rapidly dries her tears, and 
after nervously toying for a moment with the booty on the 
table, listens intently at the door, left. Then, stealthily, 
she draws out the rod, and fingers it gloatingly. 

Zipporah. [Softly to herself.] If he knew ! 

[There is a slight noise in the room, left, and Zipporah has 
barely thrust the rod back into her dress, when the door, 
left, opens, and Miriam enters. She has exchanged her 
sombre attire for a rich mantle of scarlet, and across one 
arm hangs a cloth of gold which glitters as it is caught by 
the fire of the Passover. In one hand she holds an open 
jewel-box, which reveals the gleam of precious stones. In 
the other, she holds a brush and a box of spices, and a 
shield of burnished brass, the ancient mirror of early peo- 
ples. At sight of her, Zipporah starts and cowers away, a 
tawdry thing in her promiscuous finery. 
Miriam. [Not looking at Zipporah.] Moses is gone? 
Zipporah. [In open-mouthed amazement at Miriam's glowing 
beauty.] Yea! 

Miriam. [Preoccupied, seating herself beside the table.] I 

would be alone before the Passover ! 

Zipporah. [Nervously.] I, too, Miriam! It would be well if 
thou shouldst stay in thy chamber! 

Miriam. [Spreading out the jewels before her.] I will finish 
here! 

Zipporah. [In growing alarm.] But I too wish to be here! I 

was here first! I 

IMiRiAM. [Sombrely.] What is the Lamb to thee, thou woman 
of the land of Midian? 

Zipporah. [With attempted virtue.] I told Aaron I would at- 
tend to its roasting! 

Miriam. I will attend thereto! 

Zipporah. [Desperately, trying to sound casual.] If thou hear- 

est aught — if any should come 

Miriam. [Flashing her a look.] Who should come? 
Zipporah. [Defiantly.] Moses my husband will presently re- 
turn! He will wish to find me here! 

Miriam. When Moses returneth he will tell thee! 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 



79 



ZiPPORAH. [With frightened obstinacy.] I promised Aaron thy 

brother I would attend to the bitter herbs 

Miriam. [Crossing to the hearth.] And I have told thee / will 

attend thereto ! 

ZiPPORAH. It is not thine alone! It is the Passover! 
Miriam. [With swift exultation.] Yea, the Passover of the 
Children of Israel— — ! [After a moment, as Zippqrah still 

lingers, fidgeting, she adds imperiously.] I would be alone ./ 

[With a last look toward the door, right, Zippqrah goes out, and 
Miriam, kneeling before the fire, makes some necessary adjust- 
ments. Then, again, she seats herself at the table, in such a 
way as to face the audience, and, taking a great gold chain 
from the box, winds it about her neck. Softly, regarding 
herself in the shield.] Not yet! My hair, first, fragrant with 
spices! 

[Solemn and austere in all her movements, she removes the 
chain, placing it before her on the table. Then she loosens 
her long, dark hair; for some moments, with long, luxuri- 
ous strokes, she brushes it, still looking in the shield. 
Slowly, she pours in spices from the box. Then, leaning 
eagerly fonvard to study each new effect, she decks it with 
jewels. With a glance at her slender arms, she selects four 
heavy bracelets from the box, and fastens them upon her. 
Then she winds the gold rope about her neck. Rising 
slowly, she folds the cloth of gold over the scarlet of her 
raiment; then, with a deep breath, and with a rapture so 
free from self-love as to seem holy, she speaks, in tense 
exultation. 
Miriam. Oh, I am beautiful! I, Miriam, on the night of the 
Liberation, — beautiful unto Jehovah! 

[There is a rustle outside, right. Miriam, still absorbed, 
seats herself, and is placing another jewel in her hair, 
when the handle of the door turns, and a man stands on 
the threshold. Without looking up, taking it to be Moses, 
she says, "Is it thou?'' But as the tall form of a masked 
mMn, clad in Egyptian garb, enters, she starts up, as if 
aware of an intruder. Without a word, he softly shuts the 
door, then, as if in response to a subconscious will, still 
wordless, takes a step toward her. 



80 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act hi 

Miriam. [Sharply.] Who art thou? [As he says nothing.] 
Entering as a thief in the night? 

Egyptian. [Halj choking.] Gods ! I did not know 1 

Miriam. [Contemptuously .] So ! Thou art from the 

Palace! 

Egyptian. [Not taking his eyes off her.] Yea! 

Miriam. From Pharaoh? [As he nods, she goes on, scorn- 
fully.] He thinketh he can yet avert the destruction? [As he 
is still silent, imperiously.] Speak! What wouldst thou? And 
why masked? Thou coward! My people would not harm thee! 
They bear too great a contempt for Pharaoh to harm his mes- 
senger ! 

Egyptian. Say what thou wilt! When Pharaoh sent me he 
knew not 

Miriam. [As if challenging her own doubt.] Thou art Epi- 

phras! I thought as much! Poor coward ! The Hebrews 

say thou hast ever feared me! 

Egyptian. [Slowly.] Yea, I have feared the? ! 

Miriam. Then go! Thou seest thy mask is not protection! I 
am not blind! — nor deaf! Go, ere I frighten thee yet more! 

Egyptian. [Coming a step closer.] Thou canst not frighten 
me! [With gathering passion.] To-night I am beyond fear! 

Miriam. [Her face changing.] What? "To-night?" When 

thou knowest what will befall ? [As he is silent.] Oh, thou 

thinkest I will pity thee ! That I will pity Pharaoh ! 

[With scorching hatred.] Pharaoh ! Thou art come to ask 

Moses 

Egyptian. Nay, to ask Moses nothing! [Approaching.] Oh, 
I know he is hence! And Aaron! I made sure of that! I came 
not for Moses ! 

Miriam. [Breathing quickly.] For what, then? 

Egyptian. [Slowly.] To offer the half of a kingdom for thy 
people 

IMiRiAM. [Scornfully.] For the bondage? Pharaoh sent thee 
for that? 

Egyptian. Nay, it is no matter! I came not for what I come! 
Thou shalt have the kingdom, thou alone, with Pharaoh! [Pas- 
sionately, putting out his arms.] Oh, gods, gods, but thou art 
beautiful! Thou, decked as for a bridegroom ! 

Miriam. [Very low.] Thou art not Epiphras! 



ACT 



III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 81 



Egyptian. Nay, no slave am I — nor servant — or only thine, 
Miriam! [Quickly, before she can stop him.] Ah, Miriam, 
Miriam, thou witch-woman — I that have loved thee since thou 
wert a child [trying to take her in his arms], and forgot — until 
that day of the thick darkness, when thou didst dance before 
me ! 

Miriam. [White with anger.] Pharaoh! Thou art Pharaoh! 
[As he flings off the mask.] Pharaoh, and thou darest to come 
here before our holy feast 

Pharaoh. [Trying to seize her.] Yea, for mine own feast! 
The feast of thy lips, virgin for a king! 

Miriam. [Trying to beat him off.] Let me go! 

Pharaoh. [Laughing softly.] Nay, Miriam, now that I have 
found thee! 

Miriam. [Blazing, motioning him away.] Thou shalt not have 
my lips! My lips that have cursed thee to Jehovah! 

Pharaoh. [Trying to approach her.] Yea, Miriam! 

[He is about to embrace her when suddenly there comes, as 
from a distance, a thin, shrill sound, like the ghost of a cry. 

Miriam. [Her mind compelling him.] Hark ! 

Pharaoh. I hear naught ! Thy lips, Miriam, thy lips, 

sweeter than the lips of Isis! 

Miriam. [As the cry again comes, this time audible to 

Pharaoh.] Go, Pharaoh ! Get thee to thy Palace! 

[At her voice, he shivers, and, starting suddenly quite away 
from her, he stands, listening as if with an inward ear. 
His eyes full of horror, he turns to her. 

Pharaoh. [Hoarsely.] What is it? 

Miriam. [Holding his terror.] Thou knowest! 

Pharaoh. [With effort.] Nay, it is naught! [Taking a step 
toward her.] 'Twas only in thy mind, Miriam! Thou tookest my 
fear for a shield! 

Miriam. [With a low laugh.] Nay, Pharaoh, never have I 
taken fear for a shield! Thou knowest what will befall! [Im- 
periously.] Get thee gone! 

Pharaoh. [Stepping toward her.] Let it take me in thine arms, 
then! Death the Destroyer! And let Osiris laugh when he finds 
me marbled in the arms of Miriam! 

Miriam. [Sombrely.] He cometh for Osiris, too, oh, Pharaoh, 
— my God, Jehovah ! 



82 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act hi 

[As she speaks the Name, a curious, shrinking change seems 
to come over Pharaoh ; his passion drops, leaving him old 
and trembling. Aware that it is over, he turns without a 
word and stumbles toward the door, right. For a moment 
after he has gone Miriam stands, deep-breathing, where 
he has left her. Then, struck by a sudden thought, she 
springs softly to the door, left, and with a swift motion 
flings it wide. Zipporah is seen hastily returfiing into it, 
from a small door. Leaping after her, Miriam seizes her 
by the arm, and almost drags her back i7ito the main room. 
Miriam. [With biting scorn.] So it was thou, thou, thou! 
Zipporah. [Hysterically clasping Miriam's knees.] Nay! I 

knew not! I 

Miriam. If thou couldst see thy face, thou wouldst not trouble 
to lie! 

Zipporah. I am not lying! I 

Miriam. [Between clenched teeth.] Thou wouldst have be- 
trayed me unto him! Me, Miriam, unto the Oppressor! 

Zipporah. [Breathlessly.] Before Jehovah, it is not so! Hear 
me! 

Miriam. Thou liest! 

Zipporah. It is not so! Thou hast forgotten! Did not I tell 
thee I wished to be here, preparing the Passover? 

Miriam. [Doubtfully.] Yea ! 

Zipporah. And thou didst drive me out! 
Miriam. [Slowly.] That is true. 

Zipporah. [Pressing her advantage.] Yea, it is! And how 
could I tell he would come [with sudden insinuation] , at the mo- 
ment thou hadst done adorning thyself? Of a truth, Miriam, I 
think it is I should charge thee with having brought him hither 
as thy lover! 

Miriam. [Her voice dangerously level.] Have a care ! 

Zipporah. Now let me go! I am sick! 

Miriam. [Looking at her closely.] Not until thou hast told 
me why but now thou wentedst out by the unused door of thy 
chamber ! 

Zipporah. [Defiantly.] I went not out! 
Miriam. Pah! I saw thee coming in! 

Zipporah. Well, why not? I went to see— if the mark were yet 
on the door! I feared lest — lest Pharaoh 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 83 

Miriam. So! Thou knewest Pharaoh was here! And yet thou 
didst make no effort to drive him hence! 

ZiPPORAH. At first — I heard naught! [With dignity.] I 
prayed, alone in my closet! And then, — then I thought thou 
couldst care for thyself, Miriam! 

Miriam. Thou art right, there! [Slowly.] I know there is 
something more 

ZiPPORAH. [Trying to shake off Miriam's arm.] Wilt thou 
keep me further from my children? 

Miriam. [Scorn ftdly,] Nay [Then, with sudden bitter- 
ness.] Unless I might keep thee from them forever! 

[ZiPPORAH is about to go, but stops at a sound of feet near 
the door, left. The door is thrown open, and Moses and 
Aaron stand on the threshold. At the joy in their faces, 
Miriam's face changes, regaining something of its previous 
exultation. 

Miriam. Thou hast found the bones of Joseph! 

Aaron. Yea, Sister ! 

ZiPPORAH. [With a scream.] Lo! Ye bring Death into the 
house! 

Moses. [With displeasure.] How say ye? We have not 
touched so mucJi as his burial-place! Do we not know the law? 
[Then, in response to the question in her eyes.] We met with an 
Egyptian, who was glad to bear the bones for us, seeing it had 
been Joseph, a friend to Egypt in the olden time! [He turns to 
some one outside, who is partially seen, bearing a box.] Thou 
canst set it here, near the door! [As the Egyptian complies.] 
Farewell, and may thy gods deal well with thee for what thou 
hast this night done! 

Miriam. [Turning quickly to Zipporah.] Say naught to 
Moses! 

Zipporah. [Sarcastically.] And leave it for thee to say? 

Miriam. [In a whisper, as Moses and Aaron enter.] Nay! I, 
too, will say naught! 

Aaron. [Taking water from a gourd and pouring it upon his 
hands and upon the hands of Moses.] Cleanse them, oh Jehovah, 
and they shall be cleansed! 

[Then, in silence approaching the hearth and bending down, 
they examine the meat. 



84 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act lu 

Moses. [Turning to Zipporah.] Our children? Are they 
ready? 

Zipporah. [Sullenly.] It is late! They sleep! 
Moses. [In surprise.] Said not Aaron unto thee, it was the 
whole household which should eat of the Passover? 
Zipporah. [As before.] I will fetch them! 

[She is about to, when a terrified rapping is heard upon the 
door, right. 
Aaron. Let no man enter! 
Moses. [As the frantic sounds increase.] Nay, I will but 

see ! Perchance 'tis the message from the Palace ! 

Miriam. [Under her breath, as Moses goes to the door.] Not 

yet ! 

[There is a whispered colloquy outside, in which the voice 
of the 2ND Guard becomes suddenly audible in a piteous 
'7 beseech thee!" Shutting the door, Moses reenters. 
Moses. [Troubled.] It is the Egyptian Guard. He hath his 

child in his arms ! 

Aaron. Wherefore? 

Miriam. [As Moses is silent.] He would bring it to us for 
safety? 

Moses. Yea — he saith it is — his eldest! 

Aaron. As I went about among our people, many told me the 
Egyptians had already brought their children to be with them 
this night! 

Miriam. [Slowly.] It will avail naught! Bid him carry it 
home! 

Moses. [With hesitation.] Jehovah hath not spoken there- 
upon ! 

[He opens the door again, and before he can speak, the 
Guard, a dim form on the threshold, stretches out im- 
ploring arms which hold a child. 

2ND Guard. [In agony.] It is my son! Take him ! 

Miriam. [Inexorably.] It will avail naught! 

2ND Guard. [Beseechingly to Moses.] The mark on the 

door ! It draweth nigh midnight ! It is my son ! 

Moses. [Suddenly taking the child which is asleep, and facing 

them all.] I too have a son ! 

[The child in his arms, with a sign of silence and farewell 
to the Guard, he closes the door, crosses the room. 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 85 

left, and is about to go into the inner room, when Aaron 
speaks. 
Aaron. [To Moses.] Call hither the servants, for they be all 
circumcized, and shall eat of the Passover with us! 

[With a gesture of assent, Moses goes out, left. Withdraw- 
ing to a retired portion of the room, Aaron busies himself 
about his raiment, tightening the loose cord about his 
waist, exchanging his light sandals for heavier ware; then 
he puts together certain of his belongings, which have previ- 
ously been lying upon the table, tied in a cloth, and adjusts 
the knot more firmly. Placing his staff beside his belong- 
ings, he turns to the hearth. Miriam, afid Zipporah, too, 
the former with a tense exultation, the latter sullenly, and 
with occasional intervals of quiet in which she seems to 
listeit, adjust their raiment, drawing shawls over their heads 
and shoulders, and placing together in bundles what jew- 
elry is not already upon their persons. In a few moments, 
girded also, his staff in his hand, a child on either side of 
him, also girded, Moses emerges through the door, left. 
Moses. [To Aaron.] The servants gather themselves! 

[For answer, Aaron turns from the hearth, and motions 
Moses to come to him. Moses obeys; afid they both 
stand, facing the household. Miriam has drawn the chil- 
dren on either side of herself, trying, as best she may, to 
keep them from Zipporah, who, with increasing nervous- 
ness, sits fidgeting upon a seat. Again, the door left opens, 
and some half-doze?t male servants silently enter. They 
are attired in Hebrew simplicity, girded, and bearing upon 
their backs a number of household articles and spoils. 
Each carries a staff in his hand. At sight of them Aaron, 
slowly, but without hesitation, as if in response to an inner 
need for ritual, turns, solemnly takes the lamb, the herbs 
and unleavened bread from the fire, places them upon a 
great platter which is at hand, and again faces the house- 
hold. 
Aaron. [In a resonant voice.] Behold, oh Children of Israel, 
— your Passover! 

Moses. [Facing them and half chanting, as do both through- 
out the ensuing ritual.} For thus saith the Lord, even the Holy 
One of Israel; I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, 



86 CHILDREN. OF ISRAEL [act m 

and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man 
and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judg- 
ment. 

Aaron. Also He saith: And when I see the mark upon the lintel 
and upon the two side posts, I will pass over the door, and will 
not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you ! 

Moses. And it shall be for a sign unto you upon your hands, 
and for frontlets between your eyes, that the Lord's law may be 
in your mouth. 

Aaron. Yea, and this night shall be unto you for a memorial; 
and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your genera- 
tions; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever! 

Moses. This is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the 
Children of Israel in their generations. [Then, raising his voice 
in a loud chant which is presently taken up by the entire house- 
hold, some of the members, as by common consent, taking their 
oboes and flutes from the table.] In our distress we cried unto 
the Lord, and he heard us. Our help cometh from the Lord, 
which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer our foot to be 
moved; he that keepeth us will not slumber. Behold, he that 
keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Blessed be the 
Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to the teeth of the Eg}^p- 
tians. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowl- 
ers: the snare is broken and we are escaped. Our help is in the 
name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 

Aaron. Hark ye to the ordinance of the Passover: Ye shall eat 
the flesh of the lamb on that night roast with fire [tasting the 
flesh], and unleavened bread [tasting the bread], and with bitter 
herbs [tasting the herbs] shall ye eat it. [He hands the dish to 
Moses, who, first partaking of it as Aaron, hastily carves it, and 
carries it among them all as Aaron continues, with uplifted voice.] 
Ye shall eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast 
with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof; 
ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning. 

Moses. [As the household continues to eat.] And thus shall 
ye eat it [turning, with appropriate gestures to his own raiment] : 
With your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff 
in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste; it is the Lord's Pass- 
over. 



ACT III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 87 

Aaron. There shall no stranger eat thereof; in one house shall 
it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad 
out of the house. 

Moses. Your lamb shall be without blemish. [Then, slowly, 
as if he were grappling with something he does not understand.] 

Neither shall a bone of him be broken ! 

[Then, as they finish, a silence falls upon them; and sud- 
denly, out of the almost unbearable tenseness, there comes, 
on the midnight, a terrible cry. Miriam first, followed by 
one after another, rises spellbound, until they are all upon 
their feet, listening with an emotion in which exultation 
struggles with terror, leaving, in Miriam, Moses and 
Aaron, only exultation. Zipporah, shivering with fear, 
bows herself, rocking to and fro, oblivious of the whim- 
pering children at her knee. For some moments the cry 
continues, the sound of a multiple grief, the anguish of a 
people. At length it changes to a low wailing. 
Moses. [In an awe-stricken whisper.] Jehovah is with us! 
The God of Jacob is our refuge! 

Aaron. And now he will send for us — even Pharaoh ! 

MosES. Yea, verily, this night we shall go forth! 

[As they look from one to another, there is a soft sound at 
the door, right. They start, violently, as Miriam runs to 
open it. 
Zipporah. [Frantic with fear.] Nay — open it not! What if 
it be the Destroyer? 

Moses. [Reassuringly.] Nay, woman! Let her open it! For 
against any of the Children of Israel shall not a dog move his 
tongue, for the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians 
and Israel! [Signing to Mirima.] Open, Sister! 

[Miriam opens the door, revealing, muffled in a long cloak, 
the Princess Thermuthis. 
Miriam. [Turning, astounded, to Moses.] It is the Prin- 
cess ! 

Aaron. Nay, it is not possible! 

Moses. She hath come alone ? 

Thermuthis. [Very low, from the threshold.] Yea, Moses, I 
am alone! None would come with me! 
Moses. Thou comest from Pharaoh? 



88 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act iii 

Thermuthis. Yea! And he is urgent upon thee to come 
quickly, thou and Aaron ! 

Moses. [Slowly.] For what, Princess Thermuthis? 
Miriam. [As Moses and Aaron turn from her in brief con- 
sultation.] Thou art unharmed? 

Thermuthis. Till I bring them to Pharaoh! After that — 
here, I think [pointing to her breast], there is death! When I 

heard that great cry [She breaks off; then, before Miriam's 

astounded eyes, she draws Aaron's rod from her cloak.] Take it 
— for there is treachery in thine house, Miriam, even as in mine! 
[Then, as Miriam tur7ts incredulous eyes upon Zipporah and 
again upon Thermuthis.] Nay, ask me not! I know only 
Pharaoh hath had it to-night! 

Miriam. To-night ? But 

Thermuthis. [Quickly.] Nay, ask me not! I think he 
thought there was sorcery therein ! For ere the cry came, through- 
out the last hour, he hath stood thus upon his throne-chamber 
[she raises the rod as in exorcism] — and then — then the cry 
came — and Pharaoh bowed himself! Give it to Aaron! I 
think there may yet be need thereof ere ye reach your Promised 
Land! 

MosES. [Turning to the household.] We return presently! 
See ye are ready! 

[Silently, the servants file out, followed by the children. 
Zipporah, who has not seen all that has passed between 
Miriam and Thermuthis, but has caught a word here and 
there, stands avidly watching, while Aaron and Moses 
turn to the door, right. 
Miriam. [Handing Aaron the rod.] Thy rod, Brother! 
Aaron. [Taking it in surprise.] My rod! I had not marked I 
was without it! 

[He goes out, right, saluting Thermuthis. Moses starts to 
follow him; then turns calmly, and takes Thermuthis' 
hand. 
Moses. Farewell, Princess Thermuthis! 
Thermuthis. [With quiet emotion.] Farewell, Moses! I shall 

think of thee this night ! 

[MosES goes out, and Miriam suddenly folds Thermuthis 
in her arms. 



ACT 



[ii] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 89 



Miriam. Oh, thou, thou ! That thou hadst been an 

Hebrew, Thermuthis! 

Thermuthis. [Gently.] Oh, Miriam, I have been myself ! 

Miriam. [Significantly.] Thou art more faithful than his 

wife ! 

Thermuthis. [Gently disengaging herself.] Farewell, Miriam, 

my sister ! And think of me when we are both hence ! 

[She goes out and Miriam, with a sigh, stands quiet a mo- 
ment, looking out into the night, from whence, at intervals, 
comes the sound of subdued wailing. Then, shutting the 
door, she strides over to Zipporah, who has been sitting 
cowering in a corner. 

Miriam. [Through white lips.] Say naught ! I could not 

bear it! Nay [as Zipporah makes as if to speak] — not one word! 
And as thou lovest thy life, say naught to Moses thy husband! 
[Terrified into silence, Zipporah goes out, left. Alone, 
Miriam stands as if pondering many things. At a sound 
upon the door, right, she goes forward with a muttered 
'^So soon?'' She opens it, and instead of the anticipated 
figures of Moses and Aaron, she starts back in amaze- 
ment as Dathan, the slave, wild and disheveled, falls at 
her feet. 
Dathan. [Moaning.] Kill me! Kill me! In mercy, kill me! 
Miriam. Who art thou? [Then, as she recognizes him.] Oh, 
it is thou — Dathan! 

Dathan. Yea, it is Dathan! [Attempting to grasp her feet.] 
Oh, thou woman that scornest me, I rejoice thou art here! For 
thou wilt kill me! Thou hast ever hated me! [As she makes no 
sign.] Oh, I implore thee, take my life away! 

Miriam. [Sternly.] Hence! To thy household! Knowest 
thou not yet we go forth this night? 

Dathan. Oh, here where death aboundeth, is there no death 
for me? 

Miriam. [Motioning him to his feet and away.] Hence! And 
crave forgiveness for speaking such words upon the Passover ! 
Dathan. [Shiver ingly.] There was no Passover for me! 
Miriam. [Starting.] What meanest thou? 
Dathan. [Gasping.] My wife — Shelomith ! The De- 
stroyer hath her! 



90 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act m 

Miriam. [More gently.] Nay, thou art mad! The mark upon 
the door preventeth him! 

Dathan. There was no mark on my door ! I went to 

Pharaoh [His voice rising shrilly.] I went to Pharaoh, I 

tell thee, to discharge my debt against Moses thy brother 
whom I have hated since that day — ah, thou knowest! [He 
rushes on, his desperate eyes co?npelled by her stern, un- 
flinching gaze.] Yea, for treachery I went — and I made no mark 
upon the door — and when I returned, she was there, and I 
decked her with the jewels Zipporah gave me for my service, 

and 

Miriam. [Irrepressibly.] Zipporah ? 

Dathan. [Dully.] Yea, Zipporah, the wife of Moses! [Hur- 
rying on.] Yea, and she was beautiful, my wife Shelomith — and 
she would have forgotten I did not avenge her! She would have 

forgotten! And then — then 

[He breaks off, shuddering violently. 
Miriam. [In a low voice.] She is dead? 

Dathan. She lieth alone upon her bed, behind that door where 
there is no mark upon the lintel! 

Miriam. [Motioning him away.] I have naught for thee! 

Hence ! 

[He goes out, right, dazed. For a moment Miriam seems 
about to open the door and call in Zipporah, but as the 
servants begin to come in, left, she changes her mind, and 
stands watching them in their final hurried preparations. 
Suddenly Gershom, crying bitterly, runs into the room, 
and flings his arms about her. 
Gershom. Aunt Miriam! Aunt Miriam! The little Egyp- 
tian 

Miriam. [Very gently, drawing him close.] Yea, child! What 
of him? 

Gershom. [Sobbing.] He sleepeth so sound! I cannot awake 

him ! 

Miriam. [With deep pity.] Let him sleep, then, child! Per- 
chance he was tired from his play ! 

[There is the sound of a multitude of feet. Then, through the 
window, rear, appear faintly the figures of hurrying men 
and women. A clear cry of co7nmand, in the voice of 



ACT 



III] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 91 



Moses, *' Hasten!" startles Gershom into forgetjulness oj 
his grief f and he runs to the window. 
Gershom. [Looking out.] Oh, Aunt Miriam! Look! Look! 
There is Father, and a very great multitude! 

Eleasar. [Running in and joining Gershom.] And cattle! 
Aunt Miriam! Look! Yonder in the road — the flocks and herds 

father hath asked Pharaoh for so often ! 

Gershom. [Beginning to laugh.] How funny they look! 
Aunt Miriam! Some of the men have kneading-troughs upon 
their backs, bound up in their clothes! 

Eleasar. Look! Even the children carry spoils! [Snatching 
his own from the table.] Oh, Aunt Miriam, I want to start! I 
want to get the milk and honey! 

[The door, left, is flung open, and Moses, the light of free- 
dom upon his face, stands on the threshold. 
Moses. [Beckoning the servants.] Hence! With haste — to the 

Promised Land ! [Catching something of his spirit, they turn 

and go out, quickly, right. Then, turning to Miriam, surprise in 
his voice.] Where is Zipporah? 

Miriam. Within ! 

Moses. [Striding to the door, left, and flinging it open.] Zip- 
porah! Make haste! 

[She emerges sidlenly, seems about to protest, but at sight of 
Miriam, changes her mind, and goes toward the door. 
Zipporah. [Pausing at the threshold.] My dough — not yet 

leavened ! 

Moses. [Impatiently.] Take it unleavened, then! So do the 

other women! [As she hesitates.] And make haste ! 

[Sullenly, she gathers up some cakes on the hearth; then, her 
packet of jewels in her hand, without a look at Miriam, 
goes toward the door. 
Moses. [In consternation.] And thy children, Zipporah? 
Miriam. [Quickly, before Zipporah can speak.] Thy children, 

Moses, go forth with me ! 

[Zipporah goes out, and Aaron reenters, right. 
Aaron. Come, Moses! The people clamor that we go forward 
at once to lead them! 

MosES. Yea, I but waited for thee to help me with the bones of 
Joseph I 



92 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [act iii 

[He is about to go when Aaron, in sudden fear, turns to him. 

Aaron. Brother ! Perchance Pharaoh will yet set upon 

us! 

Moses. [Impatiently.] Nay, the Egyptians are urgent upon us 
to depart! 
Aaron. But when we are beyond Rameses — how shall we know 

the way? It is naught but wilderness ! 

Moses. [Restlessly.] Jehovah is with us! Surely He shall 

guide our feet even in the way of the wilderness 1 

[As if in answer to him, Miriam steps to the window, then, 
with a cry, she points to a great light outside. 

Miriam. Lo ! 

Aaron. [Seeing the light.] Behold — Jehovah hath sent fire 

upon all the land of Egypt ! 

[He goes back, into the room. 
MosES. [Resolutely.] We must go forth ! Surely He shalllead 

us ! [Then, as in reassurance to Aaron.] Perchance it is 

the dawn ! 

Miriam. [ Turning suddenly to Moses.] Oh, Brother, look ! 

It is not the dawn ! Nor is it fire upon the earth! It is in the 

heavens! Lo — a great pillar above all the people! 

MosES. [Wonderingly, as the light suddenly bathes Miriam.] 

A pillar of fire ! 

Miriam. [Taking a child by either hand and motioning Moses 

and hk'RO^ away.] Go ! I will watch here a moment! 

[The box which contains the bones of Joseph between them, 
MosES and Aaron go out, greeted with a subdued clamor 
from the people, who, presejitly as with one voice, begin 
to chant the mighty psalm of the Exodus. "Our soul is 
escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare 
is broken and we are escaped." A moment passes, Miriam 
and the children silently watching. Then, as she sees 
MosES and Aaron pass to the head of the procession, and 
as the pillar of fire moves forward. 

Miriam, [hi exultation.] Lo — it moveth ! The pillar of 

fire! We are led by a greater than Moses and Aaron! Jehovah 

leadeth us ! Jehovah leadeth the Children of Israel ! 

[The curtain descends, as they go out, bathed in the light. 
curtain 



LIBRARY OF 



CONGRESS 



018 349 047 3 !|| 



